CJ Giles, an American who has had no luck so far in landing a permanent NBA job, is close to signing a one-year deal with the Smart Gilas Philippine basketball team and could be a candidate for naturalization should he satisfy all the requirements of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.

SBP executive director Noli Eala said that the 24-year-old, 6-foot-10 Giles, who briefly played for the RP team last May, is expected to be back in the country on September 1 during which his future with the Gilas team will be discussed with local officials.

If he agrees to the one-year contract, Giles will suit up for the Gilas team and see action in the Philippine Basketball Association conference starting October and probably in some international competitions in the coming months including next year’s Asian Games.

“We’re offering him a one-year deal with an option to extend him two months before his contract expires,” said Eala.

But the contract extension will depend on whether Giles, an ex-Los Angeles Laker, would officially become the SBP’s final choice as its naturalized player.

“It would all depend on whether the naturalization process is proceeding well along with his performance and attitude with the national team,” Eala said.

Eala said the SBP plans to speed up his naturalization through Congress with the help of Rep. Robbie Puno of Antipolo. Puno heads the Committee on Youth and Sports development and once worked with the PBA during Eala’s tenure as commissioner.

“We have talked with Robbie Puno and he’s willing to spearhead (the move) as one of the co-sponsors in filing a bill before October. We want Giles to be ready by the Asian Games,” said Eala.

Giles has had a brief stint in the Philippines as he played a key role in Smart Gilas’ fifth place finish in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup in Jakarta, Indonesia last May. He recently suited up for the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas where he averaged 7.2 points and 7.0 rebounds in five games.

But so far, no NBA team has signed him up. In the event he is signed by an NBA team during his duration with the RP team, Eala said that Giles would make himself available to the Gilas squad during the NBA off-season.

“There’s a provision in his contract that he play with us during the NBA off-season if he gets signed up,” said Eala.