NBA Update: Nene Hilario likely to re-sign with Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are looking to get an early boost for the 2011 NBA regular season by re-signing their Brazilian centre, Nene Hilario. Nene has played his entire career at the Denver franchise and has a good relationship with
the fans. Coach George Karl is also close to the 6-foot-11 player and he recently confirmed that the Nuggets will look to secure Nene’s signature early, so that they can concentrate on other positions in the league.
The Nuggets lost their talisman and the biggest superstar in the franchise’s history, Carmelo Anthony in the midseason, when the player decided to join the New York Knicks. Denver however did well to recover from the loss and managed
to make it into the NBA playoffs, where they lost to the young and talented Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.
Denver Nuggets have a talented roster but a lot of their players are coming towards the end of their contracts. As such, the Nuggets could have quite a few players ending up in the free agency. While the end of Kenyon Martin’s
huge contract is probably a good thing for Denver, as it would free up a lot of cap space, losing Nene would be a big loss.
The Brazilian native, who averaged 14.5 points and 7.4 rebounds per game in the 2010-2011 season is an important player for the Denver Nuggets and holding onto him is a priority. Denver’s Coach George Karl, who is on holidays at
present, spoke about Nene’s future,
“I have no problem with Nene expressing his opinions on his position. I think me and the organization very much want him here,” Karl said. “I think with the situation of this year, maybe he felt like he needed more contact (about
the contract). (But) from what I know with my relationship with Nene and his love for Denver, I just think things are going to get worked out, I really do.”
If Nene decides to stay, he will make $12 million next year and that could be increased if Denver and the player agree on a new contract. Karl went on to say that everyone in the organization is already gearing up for a summer
of activity. Masai Ujiri and Josh Kroenke, Denver executives, are already looking at the positions that need reinforcement and the players that could be offloaded as Denver look to rebuild in a team without Carmelo Anthony.
Karl said Nene is a key part of that and the coach himself will be talking with the player soon to resolve the matter,
“I know (executives) Masai (Ujiri) and Josh (Kroenke) have kind of talked to him, and I’m going to follow up on that — I’m sure it will be in the next couple of weeks.”
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