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MarShon Brooks feels like the running back who finally gets to carry the ball when it is fourth down and his team is on its own 1-yard line. He seems to get into Nets games only through desperation, which, he knows, is better than not getting in at all. "It's tough, but it's the job," he said Friday, before the Nets had a team meeting at their downtown hotel in preparation for Game 4 in their series against the Bulls this afternoon. Brooks played 12 minutes in the Game 3 loss as his team was desperate for anyone who could enkindle an offense that missed 25 of 26 shots in one stretch. "It seems like I'm the last resort, honestly," he said. "If things aren't going well for the team, throw MarShon out there. That's been the rhythm all year. I kind of know when my name is going to be called, in a sense." Newsday

Brooklyn Nets, Marshon Brooks 

MarShon Brooks and Alyonka Larionov continue their on-screen magic in his "In Bounds" interview. From training camp on, the two have made for a winsome TV coupling and now with their one-on-one, it's reached new heights. The best moment is when Alyonka says she doesn't understand the concept of "swag." After he and she fail to reach a mutual understanding of the term, Brooks gives a little shake of his head and says "I wouldn't expect you to understand." NetsDaily

Brooklyn Nets, Marshon Brooks 

MarShon Brooks wasn't mincing words when he spoke with Stefan Bondy before Friday night's game vs. the Rockets. He told Bondy that he still thinks he can a big-time scorer in the NBA, that he doesn't really care where he plays as long as he gets more time than he has this year. Brooks played 10 minutes Friday, scoring six points on 2-of-3 shooting and going to the line once. Here's a sampling in his own words: On his potential as a scorer in the NBA: "I still believe if I got the minutes I could score 20 points per game." NetsDaily

Brooklyn Nets, Marshon Brooks 

Bench-dwelling and inconsistency haven’t cracked the confidence of MarShon Brooks, whose two-year career has traveled through the NBA wringer – from rookie revelation to sixth man to bench warmer to trade chip. “I still believe in myself,” Brooks said. “I still believe if I got the minutes I could score 20 points per game.” Brooks should get minutes tonight against the Rockets because Joe Johnson will miss his first game of the season with a sore ankle. New York Daily News

Brooklyn Nets, Marshon Brooks 

Tim Bontemps: On a related note, several veteran players commented on how well MarShon has handled himself this year between benchings and trade talks. Twitter @TimBontemps

Brooklyn Nets, Trade, Marshon Brooks 

Marc Stein: Nets have made play this week for Milwaukee's Ersan Ilyasova, I'm told, but their trusty Kris Humphries/MarShon Brooks bundle was rejected Twitter @ESPNSteinLine

Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn Nets, Trade, Kris Humphries, Ersan Ilyasova, Marshon Brooks 

The Nets' offer centered on forward Kris Humphries, guard MarShon Brooks and a first-round draft pick, but the Celtics want a more substantial package to consider moving Pierce, league sources said. Yahoo! Sports

Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Paul Pierce, Trade, Kris Humphries, Marshon Brooks 

There's also a third issue that concerns league executives: How will Smith impact the locker room? The Hawks suspended and fined Smith earlier this season for "conduct detrimental to the team." Brooklyn's offer: MarShon Brooks, Kris Humphries and a first-rounder for Smith, a person familiar with the proposed deal told USA TODAY Sports. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because of fluid negotiations. USA Today Sports

Atlanta Hawks, Trade, Kris Humphries, Josh Smith, Marshon Brooks 

The Hawks also have discussed sending Pierce onto a third team in some previous conversations around the league. The Nets are trying to make a deal for Smith, too, and have offered Kris Humphries, MarShon Brooks, and either a future first-round pick or the draft rights to Croatian Bojan Bogdanovic, sources said. Yahoo! Sports

Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce, Trade, Kris Humphries, Bojan Bogdanovic, Marshon Brooks 

Brooks is a young player with some upside and a cheap contract -- he’s making $1.16 million in base salary this season and $1.2 million next season -- so he seemingly finds himself entangled in trade rumors often, something he’s gotten used to in his season-plus in the league. “It seems normal to me, man,” Brooks told Newsday. “Nah, I don’t really mind it at all. I would just like to know what team I’m going to be on after the next two days, and at then end of the day [Thursday] when the deadline is over with, I’ll be happy.” Newsday

Brooklyn Nets, Trade, Marshon Brooks 

“It’s a business,” Brooks said. “You’ve got to understand that. I picked that up on draft day. So, it doesn’t really feel awkward, me being in trade rumors or anything like that. At this point, I just want to get it over with.” Newsday

Brooklyn Nets, Trade, Marshon Brooks 

Marshon Brooks: Rest in Peace Jerry Buss Twitter @Marshon2

Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, Jerry Buss, Marshon Brooks 

The Nets remain one of the most interested teams and with Smith's recent statement that he wants a max deal, some clubs believe Brooklyn's offer of Kris Humphries and MarShon Brooks might be the best Atlanta gets. If that's the case, Ferry, who has interest in Brooks but not necessarily Humphries, may not budge and instead might keep Smith for the rest of the season. ESPN.com

Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Trade, Kris Humphries, Marshon Brooks 

What are the chances Josh Smith gets traded before the deadline? Adande: 61 percent. I'm hearing Atlanta is really active. The thing is I just don't see which salaries would be worth taking on and diminishing their hard-fought cap space this summer. Broussard: 60 percent. I say that because that's what I've been told by someone close to the situation. It's doubtful that Smith signs long term with the Hawks this summer -- unless they max him -- so GM Danny Ferry may move him for assets now. Thing is, one GM told me he thinks the Nets' non-impressive offer of Kris Humphries and Marshon Brooks may be the best Atlanta gets. Ouch. ESPN.com

Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Trade, Kris Humphries, Josh Smith, Marshon Brooks 

Nets Daily: @BrooklynsGiants there is plenty of interest in Brooks and Teletovic because GMs see how underutilized they are, so see them as bargains Twitter @NetsDaily

Brooklyn Nets, Trade, Mirza Teletovic, Marshon Brooks 

While the Nets certainly want Gordon, sources said acquiring Smith is their higher priority. A trade for Smith would seemingly kill a deal for Gordon, because Humphries is one of the players being discussed with Atlanta. The Nets are willing to give up Humphries and second-year shooting guard MarShon Brooks for Smith. But it almost certainly will take more than a Humphries-Brooks combination to pry Smith away from Atlanta, and one source said the Hawks want Brooklyn's first-round pick. Some scenarios that have been discussed include the Hawks' Anthony Morrow, who played the past two seasons with the Nets, returning to the club. ESPN.com

Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Bobcats, Brooklyn Nets, Trade, Anthony Morrow, Josh Smith, Ben Gordon, Marshon Brooks 

Brooks has been plagued by sporadic playing time as the Nets have undergone the coaching change from Avery Johnson to Carlesimo. Brooks said he was unaware of Carlesimo’s pre-game proclamation. “I wish he would tell me some [stuff] like that,” Brooks smiled. “Nah, he wouldn’t tell me that.” Carlesimo also wouldn’t yank Brooks too quickly this time. and stayed true to his claim that the game dictates minutes. “That [second unit] group was going so good, the only real problem that [Brooks] had was just physically trying to box out [Jimmy] Butler,” said Carlesimo, who lifted Brooks for Joe Johnson with 3:19 left. “We wanted a bigger body. ... MarShon played well enough to stay in the game, but I was afraid a rebound was going to hurt us.” New York Post

Brooklyn Nets, Marshon Brooks 

Though Brooks may not have heard all that was going on in Carlesimo’s head, he had heard his name mentioned repeatedly in trade rumors. But, hey, this is the NBA. This is New York. Brooks has been here over a season. You get immune. “I’m used to the trade situation,” Brooks said. “That’s just the way the business works. I was traded on draft day. There have been trade rumors ever since.” New York Post

Brooklyn Nets, Marshon Brooks 

Marshon Brooks: Best thing about Brook, he really doesn't care!! I'm pissed tho, he deserves it... Twitter @Marshon2

Brooklyn Nets, Brook Lopez, Marshon Brooks 

Marshon Brooks: Naw a center playing better basketball than Brook Lopez right now??? Don't worry, I'll wait... Twitter @Marshon2

Brooklyn Nets, Brook Lopez, Marshon Brooks, All Star Game