According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, the gritty, hard-nosed defender was a priority for new head coach Ime Udoka. Despite occasional antics and questionable shot selection, Brooks is widely regarded as one of the league’s best and toughest wing defenders, and the young and rebuilding Rockets were one of the NBA’s worst teams on that end of the court last season. Thus, enter Brooks. Here’s a sample of what MacMahon told ESPN colleague Zach Lowe on a newly released episode of The Lowe Post podcast: Ime Udoka wanted him. He valued him. He’s in Houston in large part because of that. It’s on Ime Udoka to deal with that and get the best version of Dillon Brooks that also creates the best possible scenario for these young guys to grow.