NBA Free Agents: Why Nene Hilario Is the Missing Piece for Golden State

With the NBA's free-agency period expected to open on Dec. 9, it seems as if Denver Nuggets center Nene Hilario will be topping the list of the most coveted players available.

Nene has consistently been regarded as one of the top centers in the league, and will be especially sought amongst an otherwise average free-agent class.

A native of Sao Carlos, Brazil, Nene put up averages of around 14 points and eight rebounds last season. Although not elite numbers by any means, Nene deserves a solid starting center position somewhere in the NBA.

Ken Berger of CBSSports.com reported that six teams: Dallas, Golden State, Miami, New Jersey, Houston, and Indiana are all possible options for the 2010-11 league leader in field-goal percentage.

Although Nene would prefer to go to a title contender like the Heat or Mavericks, Miami and Dallas would both need to go through a lot of trouble to be able to afford Nene, and New Jersey and Indiana already have young, talented centers. 

The Houston Rockets would be delighted to pick up Nene, who could replace their recently-retired giant Yao Ming much more effectively than the 6'6'' Chuck Hayes.

However, the Golden State Warriors seem to be the best fit for the Nuggets' 6'11'' big man. 

Former ABC basketball analyst Mark Jackson was named the new head coach for the Warriors in June, taking over a completely guard-oriented offensive team left behind by Don Nelson.

Golden State has a roster that has no trouble putting up points. In an offense ran through talented three-point specialist Stephen Curry, All-Star guard Monta Ellis averaged 24 points per game, asserting himself as the second-best shooting guard in the Western Conference.

Golden State's small forward Dorell Wright also had a productive season offensively, setting a franchise record in three-pointers made in a season with 184.

However, the Warriors' big men struggled immensely last season. 

The Andris Biedrins experiment at center has been a complete failure. He has averaged only five points and seven rebounds per game in each of his past two seasons in Oakland.

Ekpe Udoh, Golden State's first-round pick last season out of Baylor, was also unproductive last season, averaging only four points and three rebounds per game.

It's rumored that Biedrins will be leaving the Warriors before this season by way of the new collective bargaining agreement's amnesty clause. This would free up enough space for Golden State to sign Nene away from the Nuggets almost painlessly.

Nene would thrive on the Warriors alongside forward David Lee, which Golden State traded three players to the Knicks to obtain before last season. 

Biedrins' replacement by Nene would strengthen the Warriors' defense tremendously. Lee is already the best power forward to play for the Warriors since the 1990s, and he would excel if paired up with Nene. 

Lee and Nene would gobble up rebounds, and Nene's offensive presence down low would do wonders in comparison to Biedrins' lack of contribution.

If Nene were to sign with Golden State, Jackson and his Warriors would have a dominant starting five, and one that could possibly bring about the franchise's first playoff appearance since the famous upset of the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the 2007 NBA playoffs.