The incredible reason why Dillon Brooks didn't sign with the Lakers & wasn't LeBron

The LA Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies faced each other in the first-round series of the 2023 NBA playoffs, and one of the Grizzly's stars, Dillon Brooks, disrespected LeBron James, calling him old after game 2 of the series.

LeBron and the Lakers were able to take Memphis down and close the series in 6 games. James even responded to Brooks' disrespect on Twitter, but to the surprise of everyone, the Lakers and Dillon met in the offseason in the free agency market.

Brooks ended up signing with the Houston Rockets for a four-year 86 million deal, but the Lakers front office was interested in signing the former Grizzlies star, but money was the deal breaker.

"To my knowledge, the Dallas Mavericks were said to be seriously in the mix for Brooks' services," With information wrote Kelly Iko of The Athletic. "Milwaukee was also keeping close tabs on the situation on the off chance Khris Middleton took his talents elsewhere. Brooks also met with the Lakers, but there was no smooth pathway to acquiring him given their cap situation unless the Lakers were prepared to go down the complex sign-and-trade path that Houston did."

The Lakers were wise in passing on Brooks

Perhaps the Lakers decided Brooks was not worth the trouble. But they were more likely happy with the roster they were constructing, adding Gabe Vincent, Cam Reddish, Taurean Prince, and Jaxson Hayes in free agency while re-signing Austin Reaves, D'Angelo Russell, and Rui Hachimura.