NBA Free Agents 2011: Staying with Denver Nuggets Not Worth the Money for Nene

The universal consensus is that this year's crop of NBA free agents is weak, but it's pretty strong if you're a team looking for a capable big man.

Concerning that niche, two free agents stand out. One is Tyson Chandler, formerly of the world champion Dallas Mavericks. The other is Nene, formerly of the Denver Nuggets.

However, it suddenly sounds like the odds are good that Nene will return to the Nuggets.

Per a report from SI.com's Sam Amick, keeping Nene in Denver is actually quite simple for the Nuggets. All they have to do is offer Nene a five-year deal.

In Amick's own words, here's why a five-year deal would be tough for Nene to pass up:

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Per the new rules of the soon-to-be ratified collective bargaining agreement, the Nuggets are the only team able to give Nene a five-year deal with 7.5 percent raises while the rest of the league could only offer four-year deals with 4.5 percent raises. Were he able to land a maximum-salary deal (which appears unlikely), that would mean approximately $102.8 million in Denver as opposed to the four-year, $75.7 million deal he'd sign elsewhere.

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Short answer: staying in Denver is good for Nene's wallet.

The question Nene has to ask himself is whether it would be worth it. Despite the fact staying in Denver may be the best decision for his finances, it's not necessarily the best decision he can make if he has other aspirations.

Like, you know, winning.

To be fair, the Nuggets are not a bad team. They are, however, a team with a low ceiling. Re-signing Nene will allow them to compete, but only to an extent. The Western Conference still has plenty of strong teams, and the Nuggets don't have the firepower to hang with teams like the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks.

If Nene wants to achieve more, he's better off looking beyond Denver. Leaving may mean less money, but it would mean better opportunities to win.

Goodness knows there are no shortage of suitors for Nene's services. For example, the Indianapolis Star reported on Tuesday that the Indiana Pacers were going to get a good look at Nene. They're a good young team with good young players, and Nene could be the puzzle piece that allows them to contend with the best of the best in the Eastern Conference.

If Nene prefers to stay in the Western Conference, he could sign on with the Houston Rockets. Per the Houston Chronicle, the Rockets also have their eye on Nene, and GM Daryl Morey and head coach Kevin McHale have already met with him.

Nene definitely has options, and he doesn't need to be told that the ball is in his court. Hopefully, he is also able to realize that he can only go so far with the Nuggets. He doesn't have to make a money decision, and he shouldn't.

It's time for Nene to take his career to the next level. He can't do that in Denver.