Spurs may have a shot at Nene
On Friday, our own Trevor Zickgraf wrote a column suggesting why the San Antonio Spurs should entertain the idea of bringing free agent Eddy Curry into San Antonio. The idea behind the column was Curry is a risk-reward type of player that the Spurs could possibly sign for the league minimum.
However, word has come out via the Denver Post (H/T Matt Moore of CBSSports.com) that Denver Nuggets free agent Nene isn't necessarily looking for money in his next move, instead he's looking to win now.
"I'm very competitive. I want to accomplish everything. It's a big opportunity, and it's the only one in my life to be a top free agent. So I want to enjoy this moment. If people think it's about money, they're wrong. I've saved my money. I could retire today. I don't need to prove points. I like it a lot here."
Moore mentions the most intriguing places for Nene would be in Denver, Miami, Boston, or New York. Moore also writes it all depends on how much money Nene is willing to leave on the table.
Here's where the Spurs come into play.
They could possibly join Nene's wish list in the category of teams that he'll have a chance to win a championship with. Should he and his agent look into the Spurs, he'd be comforted knowing he'll get a lot of playing time and be an integral part of the system since head coach Gregg Popovich will be doing his best to limit Tim Duncan's minutes as much as possible and it won't put so much pressure on second year player Tiago Splitter.
Sure the Spurs are a bit strapped financially but depending on what type of new CBA is decided after the lockout, the Spurs could possibly get Nene a few extra bucks if the sign-and-trade option is still available. Throw in the fact that Nene is a native Brazilian, the Spurs could use Splitter to try and persuade his fellow country man into joining the silver and black.
The decision will ultimately rest with Nene. As Moore said, if he wants to get paid and be the star, he'll stay with Denver or possibly go to Indiana. If he's looking for a ring, veteran teams like the Spurs, Heat, and Celtics are some of his other options.
SPURS has no chance at NENE this year unless they get him agree on 1 yr contract at mid-level exemption where he sign bigger contract next year when DUNCAN takes a pay cut.The only other way is getting rid of Richard Jefferson contract that free up money.But NENE is in his prime and this may be biggest contract he gets on market so san antonio is not option even if SPLITTER talks him
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@ICE-MAN- 44 not unless he truly wants to win a ring, so if he wants to sign with a contender, he's more than likely will have to leave the big money behind, and that's why i said it's a long shot. as Paul mentioned, if he wants the money, then he can go ahead and sign with a team that will give him that big contract like Denver. he just won't win a ring with that team.
@RG8907 Ironically, if Nene doesn't care about money and wants to win a ring, why come to SA? :) There's Miami that can give him better opportunity to win it all. In addition, Nene is still young as well as on the peak of his career, don't see him give up so many advantages and come to SA.
@shawnthefreak well, one, he'd be playing with one of the most successful franchises of this past decade that knows how to draft and find gem players that we have never heard of. two, he'll have one of the best coaches of all-time in Pop. three, he'll be able to play with and learn from Duncan before he retires, along with playing Ginobili and Parker, and not to mention, his fellow Brazilian teammate, Splitter. four, while we are still competing, we have already starting the rebuilding process by having the young guys like Splitter, Anderson, and Leonard while having young prospects like Richards and Bertans developing overseas and hopefully, eventually coming to the NBA. and finally, despite that Miami has the nice beaches (lol), SA is still a nice place to live, and we are more supportive than the Heat fans are. :)
again, it's a long shot, and i don't expect it to happen, but hey, we'll have to wait and see.
No need to be dreaming. Nene is not going to come here. Players say that "Money is not important, winning is" kind of stuff all the time. If they really think that way then there's no lock-out now. Off Topic thing: 2Ksports just released the full list of the NBA Greats mode which will be released on upcoming NBA 2k12; following is the complete list:
‧Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
‧Larry Bird
‧Wilt Chamberlain
‧Julius Erving
‧Patrick Ewing
‧Magic Johnson
‧Michael Jordan
‧Karl Malone
‧Hakeem Olajuwon
‧Scottie Pippen
‧Oscar Robertson
‧Bill Russell
‧John Stockton
‧Isiah Thomas
‧Jerry West
I don't mind seeing Kareem,Bird,Wilt,Dr.J,Magic,AirJordan,Hakeem,Scottie,Big O,Russell,Thomas,and West to be there... but Ewing? Malone the mailman? Stockton? They're really great, no doubt, but what D-Rob 50 have accomplished were more than them, with or without the 2 rings. I won't say it's totally bias but think they should have better options, at least options that would make less debating. Besides, if you let Dr.J in, how could you leave D.Wilkins out? How about Elgin Baylor? Walter Frazier? I think they're some of the better option than Ewing,Malone,and Stockton ON THIS LIST.
@shawnthefreak I've been saying for years that Ewing is at least the most overrated player of his time, if not all time.
@shawnthefreak and some of those players actually do mean that they want to win a ring and are willing to take less money. just ask LeBron and Bosh last season when they signed with Miami for less money to play with Wade. we're not dreaming here. like we said, it's a long shot, and i don't expect it to happen, but if Nene truly means what he said, one of his destinations can certainly be here. anything can happen in the NBA.
@RG8907@shawnthefreak They didn't take less money Wade did, as a longtime Spurs fan I'm trying to keep on open mind as far FA for the team but the as well known we'll have to wait and see.
@Big_Texx87 yes they did, they could have gotten a lot more money had signed with a team like New York. i know Wade took less, but so did LeBron and Bosh. but i do agree, i'm keeping an open mind as well FA.
even if Nene said its not all money but a chance to win a ring, still it's inconceiveable to think that he is willing to receive a pay less than $10k/annum. However if per chance the spurs can unload the contract of r.jefferson and the unguaranteed conract of mcdyess, they can lure nene to caom aboard. He will certainly be an interior factor and splitter being a teammate familiarly could also help. Also, the spurs can reduce the number of sgs and sfs to compensate for the salary of nene. I wonder how old he. He had some injuries in the past likewise so the spsurs run the risk of taking in a player with some health issues. Considering all the above points, I would l;ike to see nene in silver and black uniform when the nba season opens.
@rtesoro440 despite that's he's been in the league for 9 years already, he's still only 28 years old. yea, injuries in the past is somewhat a concern, but he did play 75 games last season, so i wouldn't worry about him.
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i agree with what you said, Paul. assuming that McDyess is going to retire and as you mention about Pop limiting Duncan's minutes, the minutes will be there for Nene. i hope Splitter can have a little chat with Nene because it would be great to have those two work together again. it's still a long shot, but if Nene is saying he wants to compete for a ring and it's not all about the money, then S.A. can definitely be a destination for him.
