Nuggets break the bank on Nene

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

DENVER -- Nene sent off a text to George Karl with just the words the Denver Nuggets coach wanted to hear.

"I'm coming. I'm coming," the free agent centre told Karl after re-signing Tuesday night with the Nuggets for a reported US$67 million over five years.

Nene's re-signing was to be formally announced at a news conference Wednesday. Karl said after practice that the return of the Nuggets' big man provided a critical building block ahead of Denver's season opener at Dallas on Dec. 26.

"I can't deny you get excited," Karl said. "What we're trying to do is start where we left off last year and I think we feel now we can get there. Maybe there will be some pieces that will be different and we might not be as good in certain areas, but I think we can get to the point where some of the success we had last season can be repeated."

The Nuggets finished 50-32 last season, including an 18-7 run with a reconstituted club following the trade of Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups to the New York Knicks. They were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Nene, who led the league in field goal percentage (.615) last season, chose to remain in Denver after drawing interest from such teams as the New Jersey Nets, Houston Rockets and Indiana Pacers.

Karl said team president Josh Kroenke and Masai Ujiri, the Nuggets' executive vice-president of basketball operations, deserved credit for bringing the negotiations with Nene to a successful conclusion.

"He's one of your best players," Karl said of Nene. "I think in today's game, you can't give those guys up. Because of trades and circumstances, he's probably become our best player, our most talented skill player. I just think Masai and Josh, they've done a great job with handling some tough situations and they did a great job with handling this one."

Still on Karl's wish list is the re-signing of restricted free agent guard Arron Afflalo. The Nuggets retain the ability to match any offer for Afflalo, a top defender and three-point shooter who assumed more of a leadership role after the departure in February of Anthony and Billups.

"I feel Arron wants to be here," Karl said. "I know it's a business decision. In a lot of ways, Arron is a lot like Nene. He's kind of the leader of our team and leadership is a part of building a great team. And I think with Andre (Miller) here and Nene back, our veteran leadership is pretty classy, pretty first-class."

The Nuggets, who have been practising with only 11 players since the resumption of NBA business last Friday, will soon be getting reinforcements.

Rudy Fernandez and Corey Brewer, who were acquired Tuesday from Dallas in exchange for a second-round pick, were expected to join the Nuggets on Thursday.

Miller, who came to Denver for a second tour as part of a three-team trade in June, played with Fernandez when they were both in Portland.

"In Portland he was a fan favourite and he definitely brings a lot of energy to the game, him and Brewer," Miller said. He's just a fun guy to be around."