Kristic, Nene off the market?

Fifteen days after the San Antonio Spurs’ season ended, I wrote a piece called the San Antonio Spurs Offseason Guide. In the piece I listed some free agents I thought the Spurs should look into during the offseason.

One of those players was Nenad Kristic who recently finished playing this season with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Boston Celtics. This is what I wrote about Kristic at the time.

C Nenad Kristic: 7’0, 240lbs. 8.1ppg, 4.7rbd, 0.4blk.

Kristic has the size and passing ability that could help the frontline. He isn’t as mobile on defense but can hit the 12-15′ jump shot. 

Well it turns out the idea of landing Kristic as a backup big man has vanished. The reason is because he will be playing the next two seasons overseas according to WelcomeToLoudCity.com.

Former Oklahoma City Thunder center Nenad Krstic, who was part of a trade with the Boston Celtics, has agreed to a two-year, $8.8-million deal to play for CSKA Moscow, according to a report by the Russian International News Agency. The move comes as no surprise, with the NBA headed toward an apparent lockout and Krstic, a native of Serbia, having already played pro ball extensively overseas. 

Another player who most Spurs fans know would fill a huge gap in the big man rotation is Brazilian Nene. As I wrote last Tuesday (June 7), Denver’s front office had intentions to resign Nene per the Denver Post. The following day, NBA National Writer Chris Tomasson tweeted more news on the Nene situation.

Sources say Nuggets deep into discussions with agent Dan Fegan to sign Nene to extension by June 30 and are optimistic extension to get done

Sources say preference of Nene, who can opt out of his contract by June 30, is to sign an extension and stay in Denver.

Nene, to make $11.6 million next season, can sign 3-year extension through 2014-15. He’s in native Brazil now but expected back next week

I knew going in that the only way the Spurs could make a deal for Nene was most likely through a sign-and-trade route, but it looks as if Nene has pretty much been taken off the market as well. There are still plenty of free agent names available, but all teams must wait and see what the new CBA has in store for them, before any moves can be made.

Now with two big men off the market, who to you think the Spurs should target in the free agency market to address the Spurs’ immediate need for a big man?

(Photos: TheVictoryFormation.com, TheSwamp51.WordPress.com)