NBA Rumors: Eastern Conf. Contender Now Top Landing Spot For Dillon Brooks

The Memphis Grizzlies distanced themselves from impending free agent Dillon Brooks on Tuesday in a way rarely, if ever, seen by a team before. "Under no circumstances" would they be bringing the fiesty, controversial forward back next season, is the way it was put.

We've already presented three teams that make some sense as the next destination for Brooks. But today, a new potential buyer has surfaced, and according to Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated, has leapt to the front of the line.

Appearing on The Bill Simmons Podcast today, Mannix said he expects the Miami Heat will be "aggressive" in trying to land the 6-year veteran wing.

Every time you see kind of Duncan Robinson running around there defensively or Tyler Herro before him, you know they could use a defensive-minded wing (like Brooks), and I could see him finding his way down there and the Heat being aggressive and trying to get a guy at a relatively bargain basement price.

That, to me, that feels like a frontrunner right now.

Brooks' timeline of controversies and distractions for the Grizzlies this season is a long and cringe-worthy list:

Jan. 20th: Heated confrontation with Shannon Sharpe, seated courtside
Feb. 2nd: Hits Donovan Mitchell in his private parts, the two get into a scrap, Brooks suspended for a game
Mar. 3rd: Gets 16th technical foul, suspended for another game
Mar. 9th: Gets into cringey confrontation with Draymond Green
Mar. 15th: Shoves cameraman on baseline, fined $35,000 by NBA
Mar. 20th: 18th tech, picks up 3rd one-game suspension of season
Apr. 22: Hits LeBron James in groin, ejected from playoff game, continues to call out LeBron
Apr. 30: Fined $25K for continually refusing to talk to media after games
May 1: Grizzlies tell Brooks they will not have him back "under any circumstances"

If he were to make his way to Miami, you can be sure that Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra will be taking none of that nonsense, and Brooks would fall into line pretty quickly.

Photo: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports