Udoka had a soft spot for VanVleet, in part because of the similarities in their stories. Both were undrafted before making it in the NBA, with VanVleet going on to become an All-Star and a champion (with the 2018-19 Toronto Raptors). Brooks’ playing style and prickly personality, made (in)famous during his Grizzlies tenure, also were perfect for what Udoka had in mind. “Fred had played on and off the ball,” Udoka said. “He’s been with Kawhi (Leonard), been with DeMar (DeRozan), been with (Pascal) Siakam. He’s had to do both. And so for Jalen to grow and Alpie to grow, and the other guys, I felt Fred was a better fit. …They (both) fit in seamlessly with what I was trying to do, and they had that defensive mentality that would rub off on our guys on a nightly basis.”