Aaron

Brooks

Brooks’ Guangdong Southern Tigers trail Stephon Marbury’s Beijing Ducks 3-1 in a best-of-seven series. Once the series is over, Brooks will be allowed to re-sign with the Suns as a restricted free agent. It’s unclear if the Suns wish to bring Brooks back as Sebastian Telfair has held down the backup point guard job nicely.

Nash has been admirably loyal to the Suns franchise, but this could be the summer he signs with a contender and plays for a ring. The Suns have Aaron Brooks waiting in the wings, should Nash sign elsewhere.

The 35-year-old NBA pariah has found great success in China. It’s a great story to be reporting about Marbury, whose basketball skills were nearly overshadowed by personal troubles and, yes, crazy internet videos of him weeping and eating Vaseline. He out-dueled Aaron Brooks (33 points) in the clinching game.

If Nash re-signs in Phoenix, then the Suns would almost certainly let Brooks sign elsewhere, but if Nash leaves they’ll be looking for a new starting PG. Brooks was clear about how he views his role in the NBA, saying, “If I’m not a starter, I’m definitely trying to be Sixth Man of the Year.”

Brooks is the star of the Guangdong Southern Tigers, who are one win away from the CBA Finals. Once the Chinese season is over, he’ll be free to sign with the Suns. If no deal is reached, he’ll be a restricted free agent this offseason -- just like Wilson Chandler’s situation with the Nuggets.

Brooks’ Chinese team lost in the Finals, 4-1. He’s now eligible to sign with Phoenix, but it’s not a likely scenario with Steve Nash, Sebastian Telfair and Ronnie Price all healthy. Brooks will become a restricted free agent this offseason if the Suns don’t sign him now.

The team has been linked to fellow point guard Rodney Stuckey, but Brooks’ signing would seem to indicate that Stuckey is no longer an option. Brooks, a restricted free agent, is allowed to sign in China but will not be able to return until the close of the Chinese season.

The Chinese Basketball Association could punish the team if they do release him, however, which has thus far prevented the move. Even if he is released, moreover, he’ll need the team to sign a FIBA letter of clearance before he could sign with an NBA team. If K-Mart finds a loophole or is released without repercussions, it could open the door for Wilson Chandler, Aaron Brooks and J.R. Smith to also return this season.

For what it’s worth (very little), Brooks is averaging 20.5 points and 4.8 assists in China. His team is in first place, so he’s not expected to be eligible to return to the NBA until March. Brooks may choose to sit out the rest of the NBA season in search of a multi-year deal this summer.

No surprise here. As a part of the agreement, Martin will not be allowed to return to the NBA until his Chinese team’s season is over. This may pave the way for Aaron Brooks, J.R. Smith and Wilson Chandler to find a way out of their current deals, although they too would have to wait to join the action stateside.