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Nene's vow to Nuggets: I do

Big man agrees to stay for six years, $60 million

Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News

Published July 3, 2006 at midnight

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Not many folks spend $140 million in a weekend.

Stan Kroenke did.

The Nuggets, owned by Kroenke, reached agreement Sunday on a six-year, $60 million contract to retain big man Nene, a restricted free agent.

That came one day after the Nuggets agreed to terms on a five-year, $79 million contract extension for forward Carmelo Anthony that begins in 2007-08.

"Nene is really happy that the Nuggets made a quick decision because he really wanted to come back," his agent, Dan Fegan, said. "He's back."

At 10 p.m. Friday, NBA teams could start negotiations on contracts. Fegan flew to Denver to talk with the Nuggets, and the only reason it didn't start until 10:30 was because his plane was late.

Talk about a wedding gift. Nene got married Saturday in his native Brazil and is on a honeymoon at a remote Brazilian resort.

"It's been hectic," Fegan said.

Nene, whose deal has a first-year salary of about $8 million, can't sign until July 12. Nuggets director of player personnel Mark Warkentien, limited by NBA rules by what he can say, confirmed the deal and said the Nuggets "certainly intend to execute a contract (with Nene)."

The deals reached with Nene and Anthony are another reason Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin, suspended during the playoffs after a run-in with Karl, might want to look into finding a real estate agent.

A source close to the situation said the Nuggets are actively shopping Martin, hoping to land a shooting guard.

Karl said last month he does not believe the Nuggets can have four frontcourt players with average salaries of $10 million. The Nuggets, with Martin and center Marcus Camby also in that spot, soon will have four in that territory.

"I was trying to be an amateur cap guy when I said it," said Karl, downplaying the possibility of Martin being traded.

If Martin stays, the Nuggets could avoid the luxury tax next season. Nene would give them 10 players totaling a salary-cap figure of about $59 million, and the tax should be about $64 million. But Anthony's deal would make the Nuggets strong tax candidates for 2007-08.

"I think Stan's a great owner," Karl said. "He wants to win. I think he would pay the luxury tax if we were to be a big-time winner."

Karl said he still hopes to talk with Martin for the first time since the run-in, which came during Game 2 of the first-round series against the Los Angeles Clippers. Karl said it is a "high likelihood he could be part of the team" next season.

"He's a (great) talent," Karl said. "We've had a blip on our screen. I've been in the NBA a long time. I've been in a lot worse personality situation, in my opinion."

Regarding playing time, Karl has no qualms about having Camby, Nene and Martin possibly back next season. He said there are "plenty of minutes" available.

Nene last season played only 3 minutes after tearing his right anterior cruciate ligament in the Nov. 1 opener against the San Antonio Spurs and missing the rest of the season. Karl said the Nuggets would "have a party" if Nene can play 2,000 minutes next season.

"He's particularly grateful to Stan Kroenke. He stood by him after his injury," Fegan said of Nene, who has averaged 10.7 points and 6.2 rebounds in four seasons.

Fegan said Nene last week visited the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles. He said doctors called Nene's ligament "beautiful."

Fegan said Nene should be doing full court work in three to four weeks. That is ahead of the projection of Karl, who said Nene is "75 percent" and said he would be fully ready to go in August or early September.

With Nene and Anthony out of the way, the Nuggets next could reach a deal to re-sign forward Reggie Evans but would need to use money from their $5 million midlevel exception.

Fegan, who also represents Evans, said the Nuggets are being "aggressive" in pursuing Evans, and it could get done. Karl agreed, saying Evans "fits as the energy, tough-minded guy."

The Nuggets could use part or all of the midlevel exception on a shooting guard. They are courting Bonzi Wells of the Sacramento Kings, but agent William Phillips said the Nuggets likely would need to do a sign-and-trade for Wells, who made $8 million last season.

Phillips said the Kings have offered more than the the midlevel exception. He said six teams have offered but wouldn't confirm the Nuggets are one.

On Saturday, Karl talked with Clippers free-agent guard Sam Cassell about coming to the Nuggets. But agent Charles Tucker expects Cassell to sign a two-year, $13 million deal with the Clippers.

The Los Angeles Times reported the Nuggets offered Cassell a three- year, $12 million deal. Tucker said the Nuggets were willing to offer more, possibly using the full midlevel exception, but it never got to an advanced stage.

That would have been more money spent by over the weekend by Kroenke. As if $140 million wasn't enough.

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