Retired - Retired in 2020
- Birthdate: 09/13/1982
- Drafted (NBA): 7th pick, 2002
- Pre-draft team: Vasco da Gama (Brazil)
- Country: Brazil
- Hand: Right
- Agent: -
| Date | League | Transaction |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 NBA Draft | NBA | Drafted 7th overall by New York. |
| 2002 NBA Draft | NBA | Draft rights traded by New York, along with Mark Jackson and Marcus Camby, to Denver in exchange for Antonio McDyess, the draft rights to Frank Williams (#25) and a 2003 second round pick (#30, Maciej Lampe). |
| 23rd July, 2002 | NBA | Signed four year, $9,348,529 rookie scale contract with Dennver. Included team option for 2005/06. |
| 29th October, 2004 | NBA | Denver exercised 2005/06 team option. |
| 20th July, 2006 | NBA | Re-signed by Denver to a six year, $60 million contract. Included early termination option after 2010/11 season. |
| 30th June, 2011 | NBA | Exercised early termination option. |
| 14th December, 2011 | NBA | Re-signed by Denver to a five year, $65 million contract. |
| 15th March, 2012 | NBA | As a part of a three team deal, traded by Denver to Washngton in exchange for JaVale McGee and Ronny Turiaf from Washington and a 2015 second round pick from L.A. Clippers (not conveyed; cash sent instead). |
| 19th July, 2016 | NBA | Signed a one year, $2,898,000 contract with Houston. |
| 6th July, 2017 | NBA | Re-signed by Houston to a three year, $10,954,440 contract. Included player option for 2019/20. |
| 1999 - June 2002 | Vasco de Gama (Brazil) |
| June 2002 - March 2012 | Denver Nuggets (NBA) |
| March 2012 - June 2016 | Washington Wizards (NBA) |
| July 2016 - present | Houston Rockets (NBA) |
June 29, 2018
Nene
C – 6’11, 250lbs - 35 years old - 16 years of experience
With career lows across the board, Nene is very much at the twilight of the end of a long and strong career. However, the fact that he is near the end should not be confused with having to offer. There’s still a bit there.
Offensively, much of the creation is gone. But he never did a huge amount of that anyway, and nor does he need to. All Nene needs to do offensively is finish, and he does that. The elder statesmen still moves well and dunks with good frequency, and is also a good mid-range pick-and-pop jumper. He also needs to make plays off of short rolls, and he can still get that done too. Nene may not be the lob threat that Capela is and is losing lift every season, but he will create passing angles for driving guards, and finishes well. That will do.
Defensively, the slide is a bit more pressing. As the feet slow, the excess grabbing starts, and defending in space is a problem now. He is only going to be effective in shorter and shorter stretches, and in fewer and fewer match-ups. But as long as he can vaguely hold the fort down in that time, then that, too, will do.
A poor playoff performance should not make for too much recency bias. He was and always will be a bad match-up against the Warriors. That does not change his overall usefulness. On the season as a whole, Nene was a useful reserve post. He needs to slow the decline if he is still to be effective in the final season of his contract, but he should be good for next season.
Player Plan: Two years and $7,476,840 remaining. Might need moving, we’ll soon know. Depends on the success of other aspirations.
June 29, 2017
Nene
C, 6’11, 250lbs, 34 years old, 15 years of experience
Nearly stayed healthy, until the end. Shot his best true shooting percentage since 2011, as well as his best PER since that time, and posted his best block rate since 2012. Very solid season as a backup, physical and skilled, still with plenty left to offer. Although he is now to be a free agent, he would be a very good candidate to bring back and do the same thing once again. If he can stay healthy, of course.
Player Plan: Expiring $2,898,000 contract. A useful player who, if no cap space is pursued, can hopefully be re-signed for the $3,477,600 his non-Bird rights can pay him, although it is duly noted that this would be a discount. Failing that, if the cap room route is gone done, Nene is a room MLE candidate. It is of note that Harrell and Onuaku are waiting in the wings, however.