A timeline of the Brooks-broken Suns, Grizzlies and Wizards trade

It will forever be known as a tale of two men named Brooks.

The Phoenix Suns thought they had agreed upon a three-team trade by shipping Trevor Ariza to Washington and receiving Wizards guard Austin Rivers, plus the Memphis Grizzlies’ Wayne Selden and Dillon Brooks. But the Grizzlies had thought they were dealing Selden and MarShon Brooks to the Suns.

Memphis was expected to receive Wizards wing Kelly Oubre, and the Wizards and Grizzlies were also exchanging draft compensation.

But the miscommunication about which player with the surname of Brooks was to be included led to no trade. The damage, however, was done through a two-hour series of front office leaks to a variety of reporters on Friday night.

The Suns and Wizards followed up the dead deal Saturday morning, agreeing to trade Ariza for Oubre and Rivers straight up, confirmed 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station’s John Gambadoro. That trade reportedly will become official Monday.

But let’s take a look back on the outflow of information with a Twitter retrospective of how reporters, it appears, ended up informing the Suns and Grizzlies of their misunderstanding.

Here is a timeline of Friday’s non-trade that will live in infamy with annotations and notes.

7:53 p.m. Friday

The Washington Wizards are in advanced talks on a deal to acquire Phoenix forward Trevor Ariza, league sources tell ESPN. Teams trying to finalize a multi-team trade tonight.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 15, 2018

8:09 p.m.

As part of a three-team deal nearing completion: Ariza to the Wizards, Kelly Oubre to the Memphis Grizzlies and Austin Rivers and two Grizzlies role players to Suns, league sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/1EmRCHrjOP

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 15, 2018

Imagine here that Wojnarowski is attempting to clarify with sources which Brooks is involved in the trade.

8:11 p.m.

Meanwhile, The Athletic’s Fred Katz is with Washington reporters in the Wizards’ locker room after a loss.

We’re in the locker room right now. This should be an interesting postgame session

— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) December 15, 2018

The Suns have traded Trevor Ariza to the Washington Wizzards in a three team trade with Memphis. Suns get back Wayne Selden, Dillon Brooks and Austin Rivers

— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) December 15, 2018

In the moment, this appears to be a solid move for Ariza, as the Suns would get back Rivers, who can act as a starting point guard to take pressure off Devin Booker.

While that is a stop-gap option at point guard, the real win was Dillon Brooks, who is a solid second-year pro with a $1.6 million non-guaranteed option on his contract in 2019-20 before he hits restricted free agency.

8:21 p.m.

Washington, Phoenix and Memphis have agreed in principle on deal that will also include Wayne Selden and Dillon Brooks headed to Suns, and a 2020 Grizzlies second-round pick and a conditional 2019 second-rounder to Washington, league sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 15, 2018

Clarification: MarShon Brooks on his way to Suns, not Dillon.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 15, 2018

Uh, oh. Just guessing here, but it appears that Wojnarowski did more than just assume the wrong Brooks. Perhaps different sources gave him different answers?

A Grizzlies source confirms it's MarShon Brooks in the deal.

— Chris Herrington (@HerringtonNBA) December 15, 2018

8:31 p.m.

It is Dillon Brooks coming back to Suns. Reports of it being MarShon are wrong.

— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) December 15, 2018

8:41 p.m.

One more time. It is DEFINITELY Dillon Brooks.

— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) December 15, 2018

FWIW: Two sources told me it was MarShon, not Dillon, after initial Dillon Brooks report, but then I was told deal was not complete.

— Chris Herrington (@HerringtonNBA) December 15, 2018

Red flags go off when two reporters with sources in different cities double-check to make sure they didn’t misunderstand.

8:53 p.m.

Sources with @ZachLowe_NBA: Deal in jeopardy over which Brooks — MarShon or Dillon — the Suns believed it was getting in the trade. Memphis will not put Dillon Brooks in the trade, sources said.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 15, 2018

Now hearing the trade, at least from the Grizzlies side, is not happening.

— Chris Herrington (@HerringtonNBA) December 15, 2018

9:06 p.m.

The deal is dead, league source tells ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 15, 2018

9:13 p.m.

Told Memphis "never" discussed Dillon Brooks with anyone in construction of the trade, and always were talking MarShon with everyone involved. Grizziles "at a loss" to understand the confusion.

— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) December 15, 2018

9:20 p.m.

Checking in on Washington!

Austin Rivers consistently repeated in my postgame conversation with him, which took place as the trade was breaking on Twitter: "I don't know where the hell I'm going right now."

He didn't know how right he was.

— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) December 15, 2018

9:34 p.m.

Washington believes it was told Dillon Brooks in conversations with Memphis. The Grizzlies insist they told Washington it was MarShon. One rival GM texted me and said: "Maybe Washington can put Scott Brooks in if there has to be a Brooks in the deal." Welcome to NBA Trade Season.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 15, 2018

9:51 p.m.

The Suns had multiple conversations with the Memphis Grizzlies over the last 24 hours about Dillon Brooks – any information that the Suns had no contact with the Grizzlies and only Washington is wrong. The Suns checked medicals on Dillon Brooks.

— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) December 15, 2018

Washington also had multiple discussions with Memphis regarding Dillon Brooks and the Wizzards made the trade call with Dillon Brooks in the deal. Washington ran point but the Suns did have discussions with Memphis!

— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) December 15, 2018

The Suns never had any discussions with Memphis or Washington about MarShon Brooks. Dillon Brooks is an injured player so medical and physical information was exchanged before the trade call. Hate on the Suns all you want this one is clearly on Memphis backing out of the deal.

— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) December 15, 2018

Read further, and you’ll find the Washington Post’s Candance Buckner, who reports on the Wizards, also had sources telling her that Memphis and Phoenix discussed Dillon Brooks before the three-team talks.

Meanwhile, Dillon finds this all as nerve-wracking.

😅 #GoGrizz

— Dillon Brooks (@dillonbrooks24) December 15, 2018

10:19 p.m.

Last thing: another source says this reached ownership, with Sarver and Grizz owner Robert Pera talking w/each other. And the name they discussed was Dillon. So: no guarantees, of course, but the smart money is on this deal getting resurrected in some form, quickly.

— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) December 15, 2018

Oh?

10:20 p.m.

And another one:

The Grizzlies and Suns discussed Dillon Brooks directly, multiple league sources tell The Athletic.

— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) December 15, 2018

10:48 p.m.

Damage control incoming.

Memphis GM Chris Wallace tells ESPN: "Robert Pera did not have any conversation with Suns owner Robert Sarver about the reported 3-way trade. Our front office also didn't have any conversations with Phoenix regarding the reported 3-team trade prior to it leaking during .." (cont)

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 15, 2018

Wallace continued: "… our game tonight. We were floored to learn of the reports involving Dillon Brooks in the reported trade. We never discussed Dillon as part of this trade with Washington – which was the only team we spoke with concerning this proposed deal.” https://t.co/FAdhKu0Vgx

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 15, 2018

It should be pointed out that Wallace’s statement to ESPN did not say the Suns and Grizzlies did not discuss Dillon Brooks at all. It said the teams’ owners did not speak about the reported three-way trade — again, because Washington ran point on the deal.

The teams could have discussed Brooks, who is out with a knee injury, as a individual entity before the three-team trade started formulating.

The Grizzlies’ team website later spoke with GM Chris Wallace, who again denied the reports of speaking about Dillon Brooks with Phoenix.

3. Washington and Phoenix had understanding about all players involved in trade & knew it was Dillon Brooks as part of Memphis end.
4. Deal never got to official conf. call btw the 3 teams, was told deal died on MEM’s end
5. “Memphis maybe got cold feet,” said the league source.

— Candace Buckner (@CandaceDBuckner) December 15, 2018

9:43 a.m. Saturday

Hey, a real trade. Probably.

Suns sending Ariza to Washington for Oubre and Rivers.

— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) December 15, 2018

Sources: Phoenix is trading Trevor Ariza to Washington for Kelly Oubre and Austin Rivers.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 15, 2018

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