Free Agent: Eduardo Najera

[Marcus Bryant]

http://www.nba.com/media/act_eduardo_najera.jpg

Eduardo Najera | F
Born: Jul 11, 1976
Height: 6-8 / 2,03
Weight: 235 lbs. / 106,6 kg.
College: Oklahoma
Years Pro: 7

Info (http://www.nba.com/playerfile/eduardo_najera/index.html)

A real pain in the ass like this comes along only so often.

[timvp]

If the Spurs are going to give up on Bonner, Najera is the perfect replacement. Out of nowhere he became a good three-point shooting bigman last year. The Spurs have long coveted him and this might be the time to get him.

I'm not a huge fan because he's not that great of a rebounder but the Spurs need a perimeter shooting bigman ... whether it be Bonner or someone else.

[Bob Lanier]

Is he a big man in any sense of the word, though? He doesn't rebound and doesn't have the physical tools to play defense in the paint - or anywhere else, for that matter.

[Marcus Bryant]

The weird thing is, he seems to grab key rebounds against the Spurs. At least it feels that way.

[Bob Lanier]

I stand corrected - he isn't that bad a rebounder. Only slightly worse than Rasheed Wallace is, overall.

But he is a midget.

[Don Quixote]

Najera would make a fine Spur. He's tough, plays D, hustles, and grabs rebounds. And he can shoot a little.

He's not the answer to our shortcomings with shooting and athleticism, but he'd be a great addition to our bigs.

[Bob Lanier]

He's tough ... hustles
Sure. But undirected hustle and toughness means absolutely nothing.

plays D
Against whom? He's too short and weak to guard the post, too short to guard jumpshooting big men, and too slow to guard swingmen. And he's not exactly a flopping genius on help defense, either.

I can't recall his ever having done a good job defending anyone, to be honest.

[timvp]

Against whom? He's too short and weak to guard the post, too short to guard jumpshooting big men, and too slow to guard swingmen. And he's not exactly a flopping genius on help defense, either.

I can't recall his ever having done a good job defending anyone, to be honest.It's funny you say that because he had a game against Duncan this year where he guarded Duncan better than anyone did all year. He mixed up fronting and playing behind him until Duncan didn't know where Najera was and Najera totally took Duncan out of the game. And then he scored his career high on the other end of the court, IIRC.

Najera was the best player on the court that game. Seeing how the Spurs always seem to sign players who do well against them, that's even more of a reason why he could be in the equation this summer.

[AFBlue]

BTB.....Better Than Bonner.

[Bob Lanier]

It's funny you say that because he had a game against Duncan this year where he guarded Duncan better than anyone did all year. He mixed up fronting and playing behind him until Duncan didn't know where Najera was and Najera totally took Duncan out of the game. And then he scored his career high on the other end of the court, IIRC.
Every dog has his day. And as Duncan continues toward the back end of his career, more of them will be having their days against the Spurs' frontcourt.

Update: here are the games they played in this season: (http://www.basketball-reference.com/fc/h2h_finder.cgi?request=1&p1=duncati01&p2=najered01)
Duncan 8-11 for 23, 9 reb vs. Najera 8-10 for 19, 8 reb
Duncan 7-15 for 23, 18 reb vs. Najera 1-3 for 4, 2 reb
Duncan 7-20 for 20, 14 reb vs. Najera 3-4 for 6, 4 reb
Duncan 4-10 for 8, 5 reb (in 20 min), Najera 3-5 for 6, 2 reb

[SequSpur]

Najera sucks.

[T Park]

Not a big fan of this guy.

Wouldn't give him more than the LLE though.

[curtismedellin]

http://www.nba.com/media/act_eduardo_najera.jpg

A real pain in the ass like this comes along only so often.

Here,Here

get 'em

[timvp]

Every dog has his day. He must have had a lot of days this year because he put up the best defensive stats (http://www.82games.com/0708/0708DEN1.HTM) of anyone on the Nuggets. That's not saying much obviously but Najera is a solid defender.

[SenorSpur]

I'd think he'd be an upgrade over Bonner. Can anyone imagine Bonner trying to guard Duncan - even in practice?

[Mr. Body]

It's ridiculous to even compare him to Bonner.

Added bonus of getting a Mexican national on the team. Bonner is from NH, which is basically Canada.

[SenorSpur]

Tough, hard-nosed player with a decent 3-pt shot, to boot. Would help offset the loss of Horry.

[jag]

I can see it now...instant, Spanish speaking fan favorite. Move over Manu.

pshh

[Man of Steel]

Sign him

[Sway]

Just say No!

[silk]

Would make a good Horry replacement, is he quick enough to stay in front of guys like nowitzki, west, odom ? Not stop stop them, just keep up with them in order to have less mismatches

What would it take contract-wise to get him ?

I'm a little concerned if we sign him, with kurt and fabricio, Ian may not have enough playin time to develop

[alamo50]

Najera got Spurs written all over him.

[Brutalis]

No thanks.

[xtremesteven33]

If NBA fans hate us already for being dirty, imagine if this guy plays with us.


i hate this guy

[SenorSpur]

If NBA fans hate us already for being dirty, imagine if this guy plays with us.


i hate this guy

We'd then be considered the Oakland Raiders of the NBA

[xtremesteven33]

This guy is D-I-R-T-Y

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

4get it. Eddie is taking a pay cut just to stay with the Nuggets :smokin

[SenorSpur]

This guy is D-I-R-T-Y

You know what they say, keep your friends close and your enemies CLOSER.

[spursfan98]

i dont want najera. waist of money

[xtremesteven33]

i dont want najera. waist of money

HAHA WAIST??

[spursfan98]

Ya waist. unless we were able 2 get him + jr smith

[loveforthegame]

I like him. He hustles and plays hard. Finds ways to get you extra posessions and does the garbage work. Offensively he's not bad at all but he's not the shot blocker the Spurs are probably looking for.

He wouldn't be a bad option, especially if they unload Bonner somewhere.

[hater]

he is ok. but somehow I don't see him bringing anything new to the spurs

[jack sommerset]

Spews would be happy to have Najera but he certainly is not the answer but its a start. Plus he would be a instant fan favorite. Spews can get rid of 3-4 players that gave little help off bench and they are not one of the oldest teams in the league anymore.

[bigdog]

he's a hustle guy, and he improved his 3 pt shot, but that's all i'll give him.

he's undersized, overrated, and over 30.

next.

[MoSpur]

He's the Hispanic version of Malik Rose.

[1Parker1]

4get it. Eddie is taking a pay cut just to stay with the Nuggets :smokin


Why would he take a pay cut to stay on a team that hasn't been out of the first round in ages and which has chemistry issues between it's star player and coach?

[PDXSpursFan]

Najera > Boner. If we can somehow get rid of Boner and sign Najera for about the same price tag, I'm all for it.

[xtremesteven33]

Ya waist. unless we were able 2 get him + jr smith



WASTE>waist

[SenorSpur]

He's the Hispanic version of Malik Rose.

I always privately thought that to myself, when Najera played for the Mavs. :lol

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

I don't like Najera as an opponent which probably translates into someone I'd like to see on the Spurs.

He's hard-nosed and smart...but not very athletic. I think the Spurs need to address their lack of athleticism. I'd probably vote no unless he's signed for a minimum deal.

[timvp]

NBA team officials continuously work the phones in the first week of July to inquire about free agents, and such has been the case with Eduardo Najera, who has already received inquiries from Dallas, San Antonio, Milwaukee and Seattle. But after four seasons with Denver, Najera remains loyal to his stance from last season — he wants to play for Denver next season.

http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_9770285
Damn, who aren't the Spurs interested in? :lol

[T Park]

Even if they don't get players, you gotta admire the FO is busting their collective butts this offseason.

[SenorSpur]

I don't know if they're more active than ever before, however this is probably the most I've ever seen and heard the Spurs being so publicly linked to so many players. Very good thing.

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

Forward Eduardo Najera has received inquiries from Dallas, San Antonio, Milwaukee and Seattle, but he wants to remain loyal to Denver and stick with the Nuggets, the Denver Post is reporting.

"Right now, that would be my first choice," Najera said Wednesday. "But I do have a lot of teams very interested. . . . Not a whole lot of details yet, but a lot of interest from a lot of teams."

"If it's a multiyear deal, most of the time you'll have to take a pay cut," said Najera, who made $4.5 million last season. "I just want to get a fair deal. I know the situation with Denver, being over the luxury tax. I'm not trying to take advantage at all, I'm just trying to get what my agent and I think that I deserve


http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/53359/20080703/despite_offers_from_other_teams_najera_wants_to_st ay_in_denver/

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

The great thing about Eddie is that you know he will give it his all, no matter where he ends up. He is a loyal guy but of course he is also a valuable piece for any team and the Nuggets need to make a decent offer.

If they can't afford to, then id be more than happy to see Eddie go somewhere else and get what he deserves.

[mrspurs]

he improves every yr....he hustles like its a game 7 in an nba championship game, everytime he comes in.....id take him over bonner anyday....its why manu doesnt start, cos there is noone on our roster who hustles like this man off the bench...bonners edge would be he's been around a little longer....