Mavs ship Fernandez to Nuggets; Marc Gasol to stay with Grizzlies

By Paul Levine Dec 14, 2011, 5:25 GMT

Los Angeles - Rudy Fernandez's time with NBA champions Dallas Mavericks is over before it began.

The Mavericks shipped the versatile Spanish swingman along with reserve forward Corey Brewer to the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday in exchange for a future second round pick.

'We are excited to add two talented young wing players who have proven themselves in the NBA,' said Masai Ujiri, Nuggets executive vice president of basketball operations.

'They add depth to our roster, something that helped us finish strong last season, and I'm confident they will fit well with coach [George] Karl's style of play.'

Hours later, the Nuggets received more good news, re-signing Brazilian free agent centre Nene to a five-year deal worth as much as 67 million dollars, according to the Denver Post.

Nene considered going to New Jersey, Houston and Indiana before deciding to remain with the team he began his NBA career with in 2002.

Last season, Nene averaged a career-high-tying 14.6 points and 7.5 rebounds per game while shooting a league-best 61.5 per cent from the field.

Although it appears the Mavericks came away with the short end of the deal, they have created more financial freedom to add another veteran player to the roster in an effort to defend their throne.

'It really gives us the ability to add players that could help us this year, as well as create room for next year,' Dallas general Donnie Nelson told the Dallas News. 'Flexibility is key with the new world order.'

Acquired in a draft night trade with Portland, where he played all three NBA seasons, Fernandez never got to suit up for Dallas.

It appeared he wasn't going to receive much playing time this season either after the Mavs recently picked up a pair of versatile veterans, reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year Lamar Odom from the LA Lakers and eight-time NBA All-Star Vince Carter off the waiver wire.

Fernandez played for Real Madrid in his home country during the NBA lockout but said on Tuesday he is on his way to Dallas after resolving visa issues the last two weeks.

'Finally, I have my visa, tomorrow,' Fernandez said on his tweeter account. 'I will be on my way to Dallas.'

Brewer was picked up from the Minnesota Timberwolves at the end of last season, but was used sparingly.

In other moves: Marc Gasol is staying with the Memphis Grizzlies after the restricted free agent agreed to a four-year deal worth 57.7 million dollars, the Commercial-Appeal is reporting.

'I'm proud to say we have reached a tentative agreement with my team,' the Grizzlies starting centre tweeted on his account. 'Can't wait to get on the court with all my teammates.'

Memphis general manager Chris Wallace confirmed the 26-year-old Spanish star is staying in the Grizzlies' den after reports had him signing an offer sheet with Houston.

'We are pleased to have reached a tentative agreement with Marc Gasol, one of the cornerstones of the Grizzlies' franchise,' he said in a statement. 'Marc has been a Memphis basketball player ever since his high school days at Lausanne and we're excited for him to continue to his blossoming career with the Grizzlies.'

Gasol averaged 11.7 points and 7.0 rebounds during the regular season. His stats improved to 15 points and 11.2 rebounds in the playoffs, as the stubborn Grizzlies extended Oklahoma City to seven games before falling in the Western Conference semifinals last spring.

The Milwaukee Bucks re-signed Luc Richard Mbah a Moute to a multi-year contract after matching the Denver Nuggets' offer sheet for the restricted free agent forward.

Mbah a Moute averaged 6.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game while shooting 46.3 per cent from the field in 79 games for the Bucks last season.

The Golden State Warriors signed guard Klay Thompson, the 11th pick in this year's NBA Draft, who averaged 21.6 points and 1.6 steals per game last season at Washington State.

The LA Lakers inked guard Gerald Green, who hasn't been in the NBA since 2009 and spent last season playing in China.

Picked by Boston in the 2005 draft, Green averaged 7.5 points and 2.0 rebounds in 181 NBA career games with the Celtics, Minnesota, Houston and Dallas.