Dillon Brooks and Draymond Green have gotten into it various times over the years. But apparently, they were once almost traded for one another. An NBA insider explained what happened.
The Golden State Warriors and Dillon Brooks have a serious history at this point. In 2022, when they played the Memphis Grizzlies in the playoffs, the 29-year-old was the main villain of that story.
The beef was rehashed in the 2025 NBA playoffs, with Brooks controversially claiming he was targeting Stephen Curry’s injury. It wasn’t Steph who called him out, though.
After the series ended, Draymond Green slammed Brooks for his unsportsmanlike behavior following Game 7. It’s safe to say there is a lot of bad blood there.
However, an NBA insider has now provided a twist in the tale. He revealed that in 2023, Green and the Canadian star were nearly traded for one another, explaining how the deal fell through.
Ringer’s Logan Murdock says the Warriors-Grizzlies trade didn’t happen because of Tyus Jones
It’s bizarre to think of Draymond in Memphis, and it’s borderline impossible to imagine Brooks as a Warrior. If not for Tyus Jones, though, that’s exactly what might have happened.
Speaking about the Warriors’ future, The Ringer’s Logan Murdock explained how the guard was the key piece that didn’t fit for this potential trade.
“There was a deal in place [in Summer 2023] to send Draymond to Memphis,” said Logan Murdock on the Zach Lowe Show.
More NBA News
“In that trade, Steven Adams would have come back to Golden State along with Dillon Brooks and Tyus Jones.
“The reason why that deal fell through is because Tyus Jones got re-routed to Washington [in the Porzingis-Marcus Smart trade].”
[embedded content]
Draymond Green vs. Dillon Brooks stat comparison
Brooks was eventually traded to the Rockets, and Draymond stayed in San Francisco. Neither player is known for stuffing the stat sheet, but it’s interesting to compare their production.
While their impact on other teams would have differed, let’s take a look at what kind of numbers the Warriors’ defensive stopper and the Rockets’ man have put up since 2023.
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Steals | Blocks |
| Draymond Green | 8.8 | 6.6 | 5.8 | 1.3 | 1.0 |
| Dillon Brooks | 13.4 | 3.5 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 0.2 |
Green has the upper hand in every major statistical category other than scoring. That’s not his role on Golden State either, though, so it works out.
The major piece in this trade for the Warriors would have been Steven Adams. But even his production combined with Brooks’ wouldn’t have made up for the unique abilities that Green possesses.
