NBA Free Agents 2011: Prized Big Man Nene Gets Love from Yet Another Team

Gosh, I was misguided with my aspirations. I should have decided to be Brazilian-baller Nene when I grew up. That way everyone would like me and I would have just about every team vying for my services, even the defending champs. 

Yes, there is another suitor for Nene in what should be a banner year for his bank account. Ken Berger of CBS Sports reports the market is quite extensive for Nene, and it has grown by one. 

The Dallas Mavericks are the newest team to throw their hat into the ring of teams wanting the versatile big man. They join Golden State, New Jersey, Indiana, Miami and Houston. 

There is a rub when it comes to Miami and Dallas though. It would take a sign-and-trade for Nene to go to either team as they are well above the cap. It's a good thing that Nene rather likes the idea of living in either city. 

You can bet that he will make a push for Denver to do him a solid and send him packing to one of the two star-studded contenders, both of which featured in last year's finals. 

Berger writes that while Nene would love to be a Heat or Maverick, neither would make much fiscal sense for him. 

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And whereas LeBron James was able to get a max deal through a sign-and-trade when he went from Cleveland to Miami, Nene would have to settle for a four-year deal with 4.5 percent raises under the new system in such an arrangement.

If the Golden State used the amnesty provision on Andris Biedrins, the Warriors would have enough room to sign Nene outright for close to the max.

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If money is truly what he wants, he would of course return to the Denver Nuggets, who could sign him for the max as well as offer the most in raises at 7.5 percent. 

It surely is good to be Nene right now. He is considered to be the most coveted free agent on the market and he will no doubt have his pick of the litter. 

If I had my druthers, I would stay with the Nuggets who have a great fanbase and are in dire need for a star to claim as their own. My dark horse is the Rockets who are just one big man away from getting back their swagger. 

All this means just one thing though: One team is about to severely overpay for Nene—which should come as great news to the Brazilian star.