Aaron Brooks free agency article
Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2011 11:09 am
From hoopsworld via hoopshype:
Labor negotiations and lockout updates have dominated NBA headlines as of late, but there are still plenty of free agents who are waiting for this work stoppage to end so that they can communicate with teams and find a home. Free agency is always a hectic process, but it's even more complicated during a lockout.
Aaron Brooks is one of the top point guards in this year's free agency class, but he doesn't know what the future holds. He'll be a restricted free agent when the lockout comes to an end and he's patiently waiting for a resolution in his hometown of Seattle.
"All I can do is just sit here and wait for the lockout to end," Brooks told HOOPSWORLD in a phone interview. "I don't know what's going to happen at this point. Because I can't communicate with any teams, I can't gauge their interest or enter negotiations. I'm just waiting for a call saying that the lockout has ended."
The Phoenix Suns acquired Brooks at the trade deadline last season, and extended a qualifying offer prior to the lockout. They can match any offer sheet that Brooks signs this offseason. The point guard enjoyed his brief time in Phoenix and believes he'll be back with the Suns next season.
"All signs point to me going back to Phoenix," Brooks said. "I had a good time. I like the organization and it's a great city. I would love to continue playing in Phoenix. I would love stay with this team. This summer, I'm going to get more comfortable with the guys. I want to get to know everyone a little bit better and then hopefully we have a better season than we did last year."
At first, Brooks had trouble adjusting to the midseason change of scenery, but he began fitting in toward the end of the season.
"All of the guys there are cool, but it was awkward for me because I've never been in that position," Brooks said. "I've never switched teams in the middle of the season, but they did a good job of making me feel comfortable while I was there. It was just different being thrown into a situation like that."
Brooks has been looking forward to free agency for quite some time. He wanted to sign an extension with the Houston Rockets last year, but their front office rarely extends players, opting instead to match offer sheets to avoid bidding against themselves. By the time Brooks was a dealt to the Suns, the deadline to extend his contract had already passed.
Now, he's excited to receive a long-term commitment from a team and finally have some security going forward.
"In Houston, they said all the right things, but so much can change over the course of one year," Brooks said. "There was no stability there. Players were coming and going. They had 33 players in the three and a half years that I was there. I'm just looking forward to having some security and finding a situation with more stability. Once all of this is over, I'll able to focus on basketball and be comfortable playing again."
After averaging 10.6 points and 3.9 assists last season, Brooks was disappointed with his play. He plans to work extremely hard during the lockout and return next season better than ever.
"Coming off of an injury-plagued season, I need this time," Brooks said. "It's a blessing and a curse for me. I want to get back to playing, but now I can use all of this extra time to make myself better."
While his workouts in Seattle have been rigorous, Brooks is also open to playing overseas. He is keeping his options open and would consider joining an international team if the situation was right.
He is extremely popular in China, in large part because of his success with the Houston Rockets. Brooks has made several trips to China in recent years and has a number of endorsements with Chinese companies.
In the meantime, Brooks is in Washington, focusing on charitable work. On July 24, the Aaron Brooks Foundation will hold their annual "Charitabowl Classic" in Seattle. It's the second year in a row that he has held the program, which provides funding and services to underserved at-risk youth.
"We'll be holding a bowling event and we also started three after-school programs to help kids with their educations," he said. "My uncle, James Hampton, has been involved in the Seattle community for many years and is now heading my foundation. He's been doing an excellent job and we just want to make a difference. We're not just out here playing basketball - we want to make a difference in the community too. I just want to give back and help."
Brooks is keeping himself busy during the lockout, but the real fun starts once a new collective bargaining agreement is ratified. That's when he'll be able to have contact with teams and experience free agency for the first time in his career. For now, he's remaining patient and doing what he can to better himself and his community.
Labor negotiations and lockout updates have dominated NBA headlines as of late, but there are still plenty of free agents who are waiting for this work stoppage to end so that they can communicate with teams and find a home. Free agency is always a hectic process, but it's even more complicated during a lockout.
Aaron Brooks is one of the top point guards in this year's free agency class, but he doesn't know what the future holds. He'll be a restricted free agent when the lockout comes to an end and he's patiently waiting for a resolution in his hometown of Seattle.
"All I can do is just sit here and wait for the lockout to end," Brooks told HOOPSWORLD in a phone interview. "I don't know what's going to happen at this point. Because I can't communicate with any teams, I can't gauge their interest or enter negotiations. I'm just waiting for a call saying that the lockout has ended."
The Phoenix Suns acquired Brooks at the trade deadline last season, and extended a qualifying offer prior to the lockout. They can match any offer sheet that Brooks signs this offseason. The point guard enjoyed his brief time in Phoenix and believes he'll be back with the Suns next season.
"All signs point to me going back to Phoenix," Brooks said. "I had a good time. I like the organization and it's a great city. I would love to continue playing in Phoenix. I would love stay with this team. This summer, I'm going to get more comfortable with the guys. I want to get to know everyone a little bit better and then hopefully we have a better season than we did last year."
At first, Brooks had trouble adjusting to the midseason change of scenery, but he began fitting in toward the end of the season.
"All of the guys there are cool, but it was awkward for me because I've never been in that position," Brooks said. "I've never switched teams in the middle of the season, but they did a good job of making me feel comfortable while I was there. It was just different being thrown into a situation like that."
Brooks has been looking forward to free agency for quite some time. He wanted to sign an extension with the Houston Rockets last year, but their front office rarely extends players, opting instead to match offer sheets to avoid bidding against themselves. By the time Brooks was a dealt to the Suns, the deadline to extend his contract had already passed.
Now, he's excited to receive a long-term commitment from a team and finally have some security going forward.
"In Houston, they said all the right things, but so much can change over the course of one year," Brooks said. "There was no stability there. Players were coming and going. They had 33 players in the three and a half years that I was there. I'm just looking forward to having some security and finding a situation with more stability. Once all of this is over, I'll able to focus on basketball and be comfortable playing again."
After averaging 10.6 points and 3.9 assists last season, Brooks was disappointed with his play. He plans to work extremely hard during the lockout and return next season better than ever.
"Coming off of an injury-plagued season, I need this time," Brooks said. "It's a blessing and a curse for me. I want to get back to playing, but now I can use all of this extra time to make myself better."
While his workouts in Seattle have been rigorous, Brooks is also open to playing overseas. He is keeping his options open and would consider joining an international team if the situation was right.
He is extremely popular in China, in large part because of his success with the Houston Rockets. Brooks has made several trips to China in recent years and has a number of endorsements with Chinese companies.
In the meantime, Brooks is in Washington, focusing on charitable work. On July 24, the Aaron Brooks Foundation will hold their annual "Charitabowl Classic" in Seattle. It's the second year in a row that he has held the program, which provides funding and services to underserved at-risk youth.
"We'll be holding a bowling event and we also started three after-school programs to help kids with their educations," he said. "My uncle, James Hampton, has been involved in the Seattle community for many years and is now heading my foundation. He's been doing an excellent job and we just want to make a difference. We're not just out here playing basketball - we want to make a difference in the community too. I just want to give back and help."
Brooks is keeping himself busy during the lockout, but the real fun starts once a new collective bargaining agreement is ratified. That's when he'll be able to have contact with teams and experience free agency for the first time in his career. For now, he's remaining patient and doing what he can to better himself and his community.