NBA Free Agency: Nene signs team-friendly, long-term deal with Rockets
By John Buhler
Free agent center Nene re-signs with the Houston Rockets on a team-friendly, four-year deal worth $15 million. Is Houston looking to do more in free agency?
Veteran Brazilian center Nene has made a ton of money of his 15-year NBA career, mostly with the Denver Nuggets and the Washington Wizards. After signing a one-year deal worth $2,898,000 with the Houston Rockets last summer, Nene has reportedly inked a long-term extension to remain in Houston.
According to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, “Rockets reach an agreement with Nene on a four year $15 million contract.” It’s about the same amount per year he made with the Rockets last year. He’s choosing stability over money at this stage of his career. Is Houston done making deals?
Well, the Rockets already made a huge splash this week in trading for former Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul on Wednesday. Paul was going to sign with Houston anyway, but Los Angeles wanted to make sure they’d get something in return for their former franchise cornerstone.
Rockets reach an agreement with Nene on a four year, $15 million contract, source said.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) July 1, 2017
Houston is one of the few true free agency destinations in basketball. The Rockets have a winning culture from their days of Hakeem Olajuwon as their star. Texas also does not have a state income tax. Players may be willing to take a pay cut to play with Paul and James Harden in 2017-18 and beyond.
By having Nene take a team-friendly deal worth only $15 million total, it gives Rockets general manager Daryl Morey the financial flexibility to acquire the depth he lost in the trade for Paul. Nene is a high-end rotational player for the Rockets, splitting time with Clint Capela at center in Houston.
At 34 years old, Nene is almost certainly going to end his NBA career in Houston. Having him on the books until he’s 38 might be hard to stomach should he inevitably decline. However, it’s only $15 million throughout the life of the contract. Future NBA salary caps are only going to increase, so he is on a tradable contract nevertheless.