There is almost no interest among other teams in Nene, so the Nuggets have to keep him, which may work out for the best. His minutes have come way up lately, because the Nuggets are desperate for a low post player. Yes, it is a gamble, because Nene's knee could swell and get super painful at any time. Sometimes you have to take a risk. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> By Travis Heath What should the Nuggets do with Nene? This is a question which has been asked by nearly every Nugget fan over the course of the last two months. So far, no clear cut answer has emerged. However, if Nene's play the past couple of games is any indication, he might finally be turning the proverbial corner. In his last three games, Nene has poured in 14, 20 and 13 points, respectively. He's also been active defensively and battling on the glass in a fashion Nugget fans haven't seen in almost two years. Perhaps the most promising development is the Brazilian forward seems to have some pep in his step once again. After a hammer dunk in Friday's win over Portland, Nene gave the old stare down to his opponent and celebrated with his teammates who were appreciative of his new found confidence and effort. This is an important development for Denver. Nene is the only player on the roster who is capable of being a consistent low post scoring threat. Sure, Carmelo Anthony is capable of scoring down low, but he still gets most of his points from jumpshots or dribble drives to the basket. As good as Marcus Camby has been this season, the next time he catches the ball in the low post this season will be the first time. And guys like Reggie Evans and Eduardo Najera are energy guys who get their points by cleaning the offensive glass and cutting to the basket. What this all means is that if Denver is going to get on a roll and be a factor in the playoffs, Nene has to be a threat offensively like he has been of late. Yes, the team has struggled during Nene's recent resurgence, but much of that likely has to do with the fact Allen Iverson has been M.I.A. due to a sprained ankle. As a result of Nene's sluggish and inconsistent play for most of the early part of the season, some fans have speculated that Denver should make a move for a low post scoring threat -- perhaps even Pau Gasol who the Memphis Grizzlies hope to trade before the deadline. This idea sounds good in theory, but the Nuggets are extremely reluctant to part with Marcus Camby in any deal and there is not much of a trade market for Nene right now. That's not to say the Nuggets don't have any interest in Gasol or someone else who would make them better because they most certainly do, it's just management doesn't believe they have the pieces to get another major deal done -- especially with Nene's trade value being nearly non-existent at the moment. According to informed sources, the Nuggets included Nene's name in trade discussions with the Sixers during the team's quest to acquire Allen Iverson. Philadelphia ultimately had no interest, which was somewhat surprising considering they had lots of interest in acquiring him over the summer. Later, the Nuggets approached the Portland Trailblazers about a possible three-way deal to get Iverson which would have sent Nene to the Blazers. They also had no interest, which forced the team to part with Andre Miller to get A.I. in powder blue. The end result of this is simple: it's sink or swim time with Nene, and it looks like the big man has finally started treading water of late. While it's easy to forget because of his season stats to date, Nene's a young player who has the chance to be a real difference maker. And even though ACL surgery is much more refined than it was even a decade ago, one has to remember Nene has been rehabbing in hopes of returning to form from an injury that is still looked upon as being quite severe in medical circles. The moral of this tale is don't give up on Nene quite yet. He's in better shape and he looks to be coming on. Sometimes the best trades are the ones a team doesn't make. Sure, there's not much of a market for Nene right now, but in the long run, being forced to keep Nene in Denver might end up being a blessing in disguise. </div> Source
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Team Excited Nene Shows Signs of Rebound Center/forward is slim, happy and making an impact By Chris Tomasson February 12, 2007 The weight is gone. The smile is back. For more than a year, there was a cloud hanging over Nene's once- sunny disposition. He tore his right anterior cruciate ligament in the opener last season and it was a long road back. Even though he took the floor for this opener this season, the Nuggets big man wasn't the same player. Not able to condition the way he normally does, Nene was overweight and out of shape. But who has that been this month throwing down dunks and smiling all the way up the court? None other than Nene. "That's the guy I remember when we got traded together here in Denver five years ago," said center Marcus Camby, the only Nuggets player to have played each season with Nene since he arrived in 2002. "I always said it's going to take some time for him to get adjusted, especially coming off the ACL injury. He's just starting to come along, and at the right time." Medical people had cautioned before the season that it would be about January before Nene - he was injured Nov. 1, 2005, had surgery and missed the remainder of last season - would start resembling his old self. Nene was solid in January, and he has erupted in February. In six games this month, he's shooting 57.5 percent and has averaged 18.2 points and 8.2 rebounds to raise his seasonal marks to 10.2 and 6.0. "I play good," said the 6-foot-11 Nene, who has started the past four games at center with Camby ailing but will be back at his starting power forward spot tonight against Golden State if Camby returns from the flu. "I'm so glad. I'm thankful for God. I'm happy about how I play. I just keep going." Working his way back was no carnival for the native of Brazil. Rehabilitation was grueling. And even after he signed a six-year, $60 million contract as a restricted free agent last summer, he had to listen to many observers say the Nuggets overpaid. Nene started out slowly this season. He was questioned when he banged his right knee in the fourth game, and what didn't look to be much of an injury shut him down for four weeks. "I don't think nothing of people talking," Nene said. "I just focus on playing basketball and playing hard. Everybody's going to talk." Now, they're talking him up. Figures differ on how much weight Nene has dropped this season, Nene saying he has gone from 282 to 264 pounds, and strength and conditioning coach Steve Hess calling the drop from 276 to 260. Regardless, he's getting close to being able to run the floor the way he once did. "He's done a brilliant job," Hess said. Nene, who writes "Only Lord is God" on his shoes in Portuguese, credits his faith for helping him. He said his wife, Meleana Antuanes, has been an inspiration. The two were married in July. She met Nene when she was a personal trainer helping him in Brazil with his recovery. "She gives me a lot," Nene said. "Take care of you and love your man." The Nuggets are loving what Nene has given them lately. He scored a career-high 27 points Feb. 5 against Phoenix. He has two double-figure rebounding games this month, which is saying something, since he wasn't much of a rebounder even before his injury. "I'm excited," said Nuggets coach George Karl, who has used Nene an average of 34 minutes since moving him into the starting lineup at the beginning of February. "What I see is, his mind is strong and growing in a strong direction. His courage, his size, his physicalness and his presence is very good for our basketball team." What Nuggets forward Eduardo Najera sees is the smile returning to Nene's face. "I'm really happy for him," Najera said. "He has been criticized by a lot of people, which isn't fair when you're limping around. . . . He was frustrated. He wasn't having a lot of fun. But now, when you see him, he's a totally different person. He's enjoying playing out there." </div> Source
