NBA Trade Rumors: 10 Teams That Could Use Denver Nuggets' Nene Hilario
Nene Hilario is the latest victim of what seems like a rumor epidemic. Since Nene is playing on the Denver Nuggets, it is very easy to understand why this article might come off as a big surprise.
The Nuggets have been battling trade rumors all season; however, none of them have centered around him and have mostly focused on his All-Star teammate Carmelo Anthony.
Well, Nene might play a big part in the Melo dealings, especially if it gets too close to the trade deadline which is already just 23 days away.
Well, let's begin with a clever segue; I am sure you can think of one...
What Nene Brings
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Nene can be a very consistent low post scorer when given the chance, but his rebounding has always been sub par as he sits on a 6.9 average.
The last two seasons for Nene have been pretty good, as he has shown to be a good 14-7 guy. His defense seems to be average at best at least from a numbers standpoint, and he currently averages more steals than blocks and more than three personal fouls a game.
When given good minutes and if he is healthy, he can be a consistent performer for a team and give them another threat down low.
It would only be fair to state that Nene does play on a team with a lot of talent, so he definitely does not get the touches he deserves, which could mean that he is capable of a lot more.
This is also further proved by his high shooting percentages, and as of now, he is leading the league in the category with an outstanding 64 percent shooting. His free throw percentage is also pretty good for a big and is sitting comfortably at 75 percent.
Now, let's move on to the teams!
Honorable Mentions
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These are the teams that just failed to make it!
Cleveland Cavaliers - Who are they going to give up? Ted Williams? At this point, their strength should be towards getting lottery picks and not 28-year-old centers.
Golden State Warriors - They could use a low post presence, but that should not be their focus at this point and they should just look toward free agency for their centers.
Orlando Magic - Nene is too good to be a back up.
10. Los Angeles Lakers
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I often times look at the 10 spot as my way of having a sleeper or a wild card on the list, and that is what the Lakers present in themselves.
They do not exactly require a center, but switching things up down low might not be a terrible idea. Again, this is just a wildcard and who knows what can happen these days.
A consistent (not to mention injury-free) center would not be a terrible target for the defending champions and could make them an even more dangerous group night in and night out. And of course, come the playoffs, a team's weaknesses tend to get exposed.
While the Lakers are not short on bigs, one more talented player in exchange for a couple of role players would not be such a bad idea.
9. Minnesota Timberwolves
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It is sad to see a superstar do everything in his power to win games and to get his teammates involved, but losing night after night.
Kevin Love needs help; the distress signal is in the sky and someone needs to answer.
While I would simply love seeing Nene go to the Timberwolves, the only way I could see this work is in a multi-team deal. The Wolves are most likely looking towards the summer to make some big moves and as of now, nothing else really makes sense for them.
Nene would be a great player for them, but when also looking at his side of things, he is going from a perennial playoff team to the bottom feeders of the NBA.
This team could also be considered a wild card and it would be interesting to see the impact of Minnesota in the upcoming big trade deals.
8. Los Angeles Clippers
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The Clippers could be a very nice fit for Nene, and they would use his low post abilities to help improve their record.
However, and I cannot believe I am saying this, the Clippers don't really need a great center right now.
Chris Kaman is a formidable starter and while the bench is not exactly great, the Clippers don't have to concern themselves with that at the moment. What the Clippers need to do is to become a better unit and get some other real talent into LA.
This free agency, in my opinion, will be one of the most important ones in recent memory; yes, I am serious.
A lot of teams are starting to break out and they need more parts, and a lot of other teams are growing older and need to unload.
The free agency period should be very hectic, but that's a whole new article.
Nene to the Clippers = not likely.
7. Charlotte Bobcats
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While the center position is not the immediate concern of the Bobcats, it will come up in the talks soon enough, and when it does, Nene will be on the radar.
The Bobcats have not made many public moves and have not said a whole lot to the press, so it is difficult to see exactly where they stand and what they are looking for.
Nonetheless, I believe that this is just a quiet that preludes a major storm and the rumors will reach the Bobcats, and I believe the trades will happen and with them surprises.
That is, however, speculation and thus I place them low on this list, because when all is said and done, the Bobcats could do absolutely nothing during this free agency.
6. Phoenix Suns
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Looks like even on this list, the Suns fins themselves on the bottom half.
The Phoenix Suns need some new players and that is without a doubt; however, their problem does not lie in their center position.
Any player can be relatively successful with the Suns mostly due to Steve Nash, but as a team and a whole, it takes a certain type of player to fit in the desert.
Nene will fit, but he is not what the Suns are looking for and he won't answer their biggest problems, which still stand as defense and, well, the disappearance of Amar'e.
Also, it is not exactly known what the Suns are looking for this year and if Steve Nash will be staying there long or not. If he is traded, then I would think the payoff would have to be greater than Nene.
5. Houston Rockets
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The Rockets need a center pretty badly and Nene could be the perfect solution to make up the big hole in the lineup.
Yao Ming is a big question mark, and even if he does come back and play, one simply has to ask "How long will he last this time?"
The waiting from year to year is most likely growing stale on many Houston fans, and I am sure many are yelling for some change down low.
Well, Nene would be the spearhead of that change, and his production would greatly increase given the amount of touches he will see down low, and the Rockets will instantly become a much better team all around.
This is definitely a team to look for in the trade talks, and maybe they will pull it off and shock the remaining fans that still attend their games.
4. Oklahoma City Thunder
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The Thunder are ridiculously close to being very serious contenders. Very close.
They have a dominant point guard, the best scorer in the league and some very good supporting players. All they don't really have is someone who can score in the low post consistently.
Nene would put the Thunder right in the midst of the Championship chase and possibly on the same level as the Lakers and Spurs, at least on paper.
Their team would be very well rounded and they would have the ability to score in a countless number of ways, and their all-around production would go up instantly.
Nene does not need a lot of touches and can live without them. This would allow for Westbrook and Durant to continue doing what they do best, and the touches he does get would decrease their misses and poor decisions.
All in all, he would be a very solid addition.
3. Philadelphia 76ers
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This squad has loads of potential going into every season they play, but they always end up playing well below their potential and they never truly reach expectations.
A scorer in the low post would change, or at least attempt to change, some of that and add some real offensive talent down low.
He would consistently put up numbers in Philly, and his production there would put him into very high favors among the NBA fans.
Philly needs another real strong center, something they have not had in a long time, and since almost every other action they attempted has failed, the simple question is: Why not?
The worst that will happen is Philly would still not make the playoffs like they do nearly every year and they would have a trade piece that would allow them to try something else.
2. New York Knicks
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Amar'e could use some help down low, and I mean real help.
New York has a great unit in place and look like they will finally make the playoffs and put together a decent season.
However, they cannot be taken seriously without at least a good defense or a complete offense.
Their offense is amazing, no doubt about it, but it does not have all the pieces it needs to be fully successful.
Amar'e is found taking loads of midrange shots and is rarely backing guys down and banging down low, and the others are usually on the three line watching him and cheering him on.
The one thing that the East's contenders have in common is that their teams are relying on big men, either to make their teams or break their teams.
To not have a decent big man who can bang down low is a huge minus on the New York playoff hopes.
1. Miami Heat
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Speaking of the big men breaking a team, we have the Miami Heat here.
The Heat currently have no one they can rely on down in the post and many predicted, and still predict, that this will be their downfall.
Well, I am sure the fans in Miami don't want to see if this prediction comes true and would much rather see Miami get a center before the trade deadline.
To some, this could very well seem impossible, but the way Pat Riley seems to work things, I would say that we can soon see Dwight Howard put on a Heat jersey.
Nonetheless, Nene or no Nene, I believe that the center problem in Miami will be solved soon and Nene seems like a perfect fit, so I don't know why they would not take it.
Well, looks like that is it!
Thank you all for reading and please leave a comment!
