NBA Free Agency 2011: Nene Hilario Should Be a Target for These 3 Teams

With a list of NBA free agents that includes the likes of Jamal Crawford, Jason Richardson, Caron Butler and Arron Afflalo, its easy to overlook a big man in favor of the offensively gifted guards and forwards available on the market this summer.

However, the Denver Nuggets' Nene Hilario is one very valuable asset, especially to teams who need a presence under and around the rim.

Averaging 14.5 points and 7.6  rebounds per game during the 2010-11 regular season, Nene improved his pace through the playoffs, averaging 14 points and nine rebounds before his Nuggets lost in the first round to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

All the while, the power forward/center was one of the crucial pieces for the post-Carmelo Anthony Nuggets, as the team flourished after the Anthony trade.

Now, the Brazilian native, and former 2003 NBA All-Rookie First Team member, finds himself available to teams in the hunt for a solid big man to complete their roster.

Here are three teams that need to sign Nene Hilario.

New Orleans Hornets

With eight players hitting the free agent market, five of whom are centers or power forwards, including former All-Star David West, the New Orleans Hornets need some size.

Seemingly on the brink of losing franchise point guard Chris Paul to free agency next year, the Hornets are especially vulnerable with Emeka Okafor as the only center, a weakness exposed during their playoff matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers last season.

Nene gives them a similar presence to Okafor's, contributing slightly more on the offensive end but not exactly as much on the defensive end, especially in the shot-blocking department.

Post-David West, the Hornets could use Nene, especially when competing with some of the larger teams in the west, most notably the Lakers, a team that Okafor was outmatched against.

For Paul, the addition of Nene gives him another big man to help carry his load and, more importantly, another piece to possibly entice him into staying.

Golden State Warriors

Should Andris Biedrins make his rumored move to the Houston Rockets, the Golden State Warriors would be hard-pressed not to try to pursue Nene.

While they drafted big man Jeremy Tyler, he is definitely nowhere near ready to assume a starting position, leaving David Lee to move over to center, despite being a natural power forward.

That's where Nene comes in. While he's not the same interior defender Biedrins is, he is no slouch and provides some offense down low, perhaps freeing up Lee to make an impact similar to his last season in New York, which the Warriors were looking for.

His arrival and ability to contribute on the offensive end would be welcomed, especially if the Warriors end up sending away their scoring machine, Monta Ellis.

Detroit Pistons

When they opted to take Kentucky's Brandon Knight in the 2011 NBA Draft, the Detroit Pistons added yet another guard to their roster, and while he was arguably the best pick available to them at the time, the team could use some size.

With Charlie Villanueva not producing like they had hoped when they signed him, an aging Ben Wallace and the undersized Jason Maxiell, the Pistons don't have a lot to go along with young big man Greg Monroe.

For them, the addition of Nene gives them 14 points and seven rebounds a game, along with a guy who can function equally at either power forward or center, allowing for a little more flexibility with the roster.

Also, with the last vestiges of the 2004 NBA championship team, Tayshaun Prince and Richard Hamilton, likely leaving through free agency or a trade, Nene is a solid building block to surround Brandon Knight with as the Pistons start to rebuild.