The Phoenix Suns have no fewer than 11 new faces on their roster for the upcoming season, but none comes with as much of a reputation as Dillon Brooks. The 29-year-old Canadian enforcer the kind of guy you love to hate when your team comes up against him, but are delighted to have on your side when he suits up.
This is a role Brooks has successfully created for himself during his team in the league, and it led to a successful stint with the Houston Rockets. That fanbase were understandably delighted to acquire Kevin Durant this offseason, but many were also quick to point out how much Brooks would be missed as the emotional heartbeat and defensive dog of their group.
Beef between Brooks and Devin Booker is firmly in the past.
It is not lost on Suns fans that Brooks has gotten into it with Devin Booker in the past, causing him to receive a chorus of boos any time he played in the Footprint Center. But any potential for it to get awkward now that the pair have become teammates in The Valley was quickly dismissed by Booker at media day, as he claimed the pair simply laughed it off and moved on.
This is obviously the right approach to take given how quickly situations can change in the NBA, but it is also clear Booker both recognizes and accepts all of the good that Brooks is now going to bring his new team. One of the main criticisms of the Suns across the last two years when Durant was in town was how little it looked like they cared some nights, laughing on the bench after being blown out.
They didn't take care of the ball, rarely had each other's back out there and had to rely on role players such as Grayson Allen to bring that bit of steel to their group. Brooks immediately solves all of those issues - and the first time an opponent attempts to go at Booker - it will be Brooks who is the first person by his side.
Creating a defensive identity and making the Footprint Center a hard place to come and play is about much more than trying to intimidate other teams. But with the Suns giving up a dreadful 117.7 points per game last time out, it is clear a lot has to change to become even league average in that category again.
Enter Brooks, who is also going to shoot close to 40 percent from deep if he manages to remain in line with his pair of seasons in Houston. This was always going to be water under the bridge - let's not forget that the Booker of old didn't mind mixing it up when he needed to - but the fact it was addressed so early means both players can move forward as teammates right away.