Basketball: One more season for Bruton

CJ Bruton will retire from basketball at the conclusion of the 2011-12 season. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Next season is likely to be CJ Bruton's last in the Australian NBL, with the 35-year-old having indicated to the Breakers he wants to return to Australia after the next campaign.

It's likely the veteran guard will retire from basketball at the conclusion of the 2011-12 season, bringing to an end nearly 20 years in the league. He has told club officials he wants to return to Brisbane with his family.

Bruton first played for the Perth Wildcats in 1994 and, while he's had brief stints in the US, has played for Brisbane (1998), Wollongong (1999- 2000), Canberra (2002-2003), Sydney (2004-2006) and Brisbane again (2007) before joining the Breakers in 2008. Bruton has won four NBL titles, three with different teams, which places him third on the all-time list.

"This will more than likely be his last year," Breakers general manager Richard Clarke said. "He's pretty clear on it. We are pretty comfortable with that because he's been a fantastic part of the club. We're pretty happy he wants to be with us for another year."

It's not as clear, however, whether imports Gary Wilkinson and Kevin Braswell will return. Wilkinson was offered a new deal but indicated the money was lower than what he wanted and said he would shop around in Europe. The offer remains on the table and one thing working in the Breakers' favour is the looming NBA lockout, which will see a flood of fringe American players on the European market.

Wilkinson and his wife are expecting their first child soon and financial security is high on his list of priorities.

Braswell is playing for Southland in the New Zealand NBL but won't know his fate with the Breakers until after August 1, the date Kirk Penney has to find an NBA deal. Should Penney leave, and it's unlikely, the Breakers will have to re-think but will have more room to move on their salary cap of $1 million. Penney is the highest-paid player at the club.

"We are a little restricted on the salary cap with our imports," Clarke said. "Our imports are probably paid at the bottom end of imports in the league. But for us, they are part of the puzzle and fit in with what we have rather than be the rock stars - so we do not chuck the kind of money at them other clubs do."

Along with Bruton, Thomas Abercrombie is likely to depart after the 2011-12 campaign as he chases an NBA or European contract. Abercrombie has two years left on his current deal but has a buy-out clause to play in Europe.

Alex Pledger is another who has a buy-out clause, while the 30-year-old Penney might be tempted to chase a lucrative European contract.

One who the Breakers hope won't be going anywhere any time soon is Andrej Lemanis.

The coach has one year left on his existing deal but an announcement is expected soon on a new, long-term arrangement.

Lemanis has overseen a radical turnaround in the club's fortunes since taking over as head coach in 2004 and is in a position of strength.

"He could probably be here as long as he wants," Clarke said. "It's as much up to him and what he wants to do with the programme but the longer [the contract] the better as far as we are concerned.

"Players like stable clubs and are happier committing to multi-year deals if they know who the coach is going to be."