Nuggets' Free Agents Bolt to China; Why Would Nene Re-Sign There?

Speaking of amnesty, there's your cap scape opportunity to have more than enough money to sign Nene. Simply cut Thabeet right before signing Nene, and free up another $5.1 million in cap space to get the deal done.

See following article re amnesty:

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/or...sf/2011/09/canzano_time_is_running_short.html

Two NBA sources told me Tuesday that they believe there's consensus among owners on a few important lockout issues. One of those issues being an amnesty clause that would give NBA teams the ability to release one player, pay his salary, take no luxury tax liability, and also, not have that player count against the season salary cap.

This is different than the last round of amnesty, which didn't give the cap relief. And if true, it would likely allow Portland to strongly consider releasing three-time All-Star Brandon Roy, creating an additional $15 million in cap relief next season. The Blazers need a general manager in the chair now if they're going to fully maximize the advantages of making such a powerful play.

Who knows when the lockout will end. But when it does, free agency will be a free-for-all waged in short time period, as recently with the NFL. Teams have to be ready to move fast. That's especially true for Portland, which faces some difficult decisions involving high-profile players.

 

We have no idea what Morey would expect from our team + Nene, but I would have to think IF he is willing to shell out the money to sign him than he probably is expecting more than the 7th seed.

I know not everyone is big on the expected win stat, but it certainly suggests our team was better than our record showed last season. Unless you predict regression across the board, I don't see why this team, as is, can't make the playoffs.

Just my opinion, but I see our team as a 7-8 seed without Nene and think adding him would be more than enough to push us to the 4th, 5th or 6th seed. I think if we got that sort of outcome, Morey would have a pretty good shot at selling an elite guy at being the final piece we need in 2012.

Not sure if it's even possible salary wise, but if somehow that sort of plan worked out, I don't see how you could have too many complaints about a 2012/2013 starting lineup of:

Lowry
Martin
Morris
Nene
Howard

I can dream.

 

Dream is coming back? If only.

 

bump.

Seriously, why would Nene re-sign with Denver?

No Smith, No Martin, No Chandler and possibly no Afflalo.

 

Maybe because his wife's from there and he likes the city of Denver. Not to mention Denver is willing to overpay for him.

 

http://aol.sportingnews.com/nba/sto...-smith-to-return-from-china-when-lockout-ends

1) They might come back.

http://www.denverpost.com/paige/ci_...: +Sports:+Nuggets)&utm_content=Google+Reader

2) The wife is from there. He might be too whipped

http://www.denverpost.com/nuggets/c...: +Sports:+Nuggets)&utm_content=Google+Reader

3) If if doesn't stay in Denver.. as a Houston fan, I can see playoff contention. But if I was Nene, from the outside looking in... I see a team that was in the lottery for the past two years and is not one player away from a championship.

 

Wow!!! Why do people keep saying Nene is bad defensively? Seriously just stop it's starting to get really irritating. Why on earth would Dwight sign with the Houston Rockets? If Morey lands Nene we should all be happy. There is no point in holding off for a dramatically slim chance at signing a star. Nene is easily a top 10 center and a proven commodity over anyone we would draft assuming we tank the season like heartless losers. I am all for rebuilding, but who is to say what exactly that entails? Tanking should not be the only feasible approach. If we were to sign Nene, Morey would still have the assets to trade for another impact player to improve the squad. I don't see what the problem is. If you have a chance to get a highly efficient two way player at the biggest position of need you obviously try. Season hasn't even started yet and the Garm is already shrouded with negativity...

 

Nene is not that good....I would rather have Chandler.

DD

 

In a perfect world, we offer a massive frontloaded contract to Marc Gasol and Memphis doesn't match. We can use Gasol as a trade piece for Howard.

But life ain't perfect. I think Gasol is the best FA center on the Market but he will easily be retained by Memphis.

Chandler would be a fool to leave the Mavs, especially after he won a title with them.

Nene is the best center in the market that we can reasonably attain.

He's a legit 2 way player that you can build around.

 

If the rockets could unload scola to sign nene makes sense, but that bird in the hand stuff doesn't work. Nene isn't going to attract howard, paul or williams will. Guys with superstar qualities vs another solid guy. I prefer to shoot for the stars and land on the moon settling for less and staying in this cycle.

This goes back to the let's bring yao back type of stuff. I'm not saying they should tank or anything, but they should try to trade scola and open that spot up for patterson and hill. they should let hayes walk vs paying him the 5m per he deserves. Nothing, I mean nothing should deter or prevent the rockets from offering howard and williams/paul the chance to play together. If they fail, well they continue to build with the young players.

 

I still fret over the Martin for Gortat. At the time it seemed ridiculous, but now would make us a more well-rounded team.

Bima, Nene isn't a center, nor does he want to be a Center. He also rejected a 12.5 mil dollar contract.

I'm hoping Morey can get in on another 4-team trade, because Nene simply isn't a cornerstone. I'd rather tank then get Nene, and I really don't want to tank. Morey's best asset is our flexibility or at least future flexibility.

The reason we are desperate for a center is because we need a rim protecter, which Nene isn't.

 

That's why I said that he will be easily retained by the Grizzlies.

Why not go for Nene instead?

 

You have to put yourself in the best position possible though. The 2012 free agency could go a bunch of different ways.

Brooklyn, Clippers, New York, Boston are all probably more desirable locations for Howard/PG outright.

Howard would probably just go to New Jersey if given the opportunity to play with Dwill. Or he could go to Boston with CP3. Who knows what New York might do. I think just going into free agency to compete with those other teams is a bad idea.

Another possibility is they are traded at the deadline. The Rockets need to be players at the deadline, in a SnT position, in a cap room position and any other combination of the above.

Signing Nene doesn't prevent us from being players in my opinion, in fact I think it helps our position.

If it were me, I would go after Nene for 11 (might have to dump salary using assets) or in a SnT for him using guys like Flynn, Thabeet, Morris, D-Mo, 2012 picks so you then have the option to amnesty Scola and have room for near max deals for both Howard and CP3/Dwill in 2012, assuming they are not moved at the deadline.

If Dwill/Cp3/Howard become available at the deadline, you could offer Lowry,Scola, PP, picks or anything really, giving you Martin/Nene/superstar on the books and cap space to entice the other max guy in free agency.

If both Howard and Superstar PG are traded, Nene is there to act as more trade salary. Without him, it would be nearly impossible to trade for both Howard and CP3 with competitive offers.

For me, Martin/Nene/Howard/CP3 are probably the most effecient players at thier respective positions in the NBA. That lineup makes me drool.

 

Nene would be great in Rockets Red. I think one of the main reasons he is staying in Denver is because his wife and her family are all from Denver. So in a way he is like Carmelo, a main reason he wanted to move to NYC for his wife's carrer, Nene wants to stay in Denver for his wife. I do hope he changes his mind and comes to Houston though.

 

He'll probably become injury prone again if he were to sign with the Rockets.