While Nene opted out of his contract in late June before the lockout began, there was always the possibility that he would re-sign with the Denver Nuggets. He wanted to weigh all of his options and see where he could go. That still could happen. Nuggets general manager Masai Ujiri recently said that re-signing Nene is the team's top priority (via Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post):
"We want Nene back," said Ujiri, who isn't targeting any other big-name big men in free agency.
If Nene leaves, Nuggets coach George Karl will need to see what he has in Timofey Mozgov and Kosta Koufos, received in the Carmelo Anthony trade from the New York Knicks and the Minnesota Timberwolves, and rookie Kenneth Faried. Faried would play at power forward while Mozgov and Koufos would tackle center with Chris Andersen.
As Hochman points out, the Nuggets have the cap space to spend for Nene and can offer him a five-year deal. However, will Josh Kroenke let Ujiri spend the money to keep Nene in Denver? We shall see.
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