re: Do we want Nene?

Regarding Nene, I don't think anyone has pointed out that he has 2 years left on his deal so he's not going anywhere.

Regarding Gortat, is him not playing the final 5 minutes of the game a normal thing? If it is that makes him all the more attainable and probably desirable.

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A top 10 center in the nba that we actually have a realistic chance at?

You need to give US a break.

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Gortat a top 10 center?

I guess you can call him top 10 this year, somewhat, he's 10th among centers in points, rebounds and blocks. Although that list doesn't include guys of similar size that like to call themselves PF.

Here's a list of 6'10 240 big men in the league, like Gortat, that are just as good are better:

Dwight Howard
Al Jefferson
Hibbert
Drummond
Pekovic
Cousins
Valanciunas
Mark Gasol
Pau Gasol
Garnett
Duncan
Monroe
Zach Randolph
Brooke Lopez
Lamarcus Aldridge
Noah
Splitter
Chris Bosh
Ibaka
Nene
Asik
Deandre Jordan
Robin Lopez
Plumlee
Birdman
Bogut
Varejo
Hawes
Favors

29 guys there. Is Gortat better than any of them? Maybe a few. He's a good center, but he's not top 10. Spencer Hawes and Greg Monroe are out there this summer as well. I would be happy if we got any of those 3.
I'd also rather have jason smith for 2 million, instead of Gortat at 10 million.

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Dwight Howard
Al Jefferson
Hibbert
Drummond
Pekovic
Cousins
Valanciunas
Mark Gasol
Pau Gasol(has played more PF in his career)
Garnett(gortat is 6 years younger and KG is a PF)
Duncan
Monroe(more of a PF)
Zach Randolph(PF)
Brooke Lopez
Lamarcus Aldridge(PF)
Noah
Splitter(I'd rather gortat)
Chris Bosh(more of a PF)
Ibaka
Nene(injury prone)
Asik
Deandre Jordan(Gortat can at least hit a free throw)
Robin Lopez(lol no)
Plumlee(No)
Birdman(What?)
Bogut(Gets hurt too much)
Varejo(Hurt too much+old)
Hawes(I don't really see him as a true C)
Favors(a PF)

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How quickly people forget that gortat put up 15.5/10 on 55% FG in 32 minutes per game in 2011-12.

He also averaged 14/10 during the half season he was acquired by PHX.

Once you take out the guys that are primarily PFs,it looks far better in terms of Gortat being a near top 10 center.

I'm not sure what some of you think we can acquire that would be a big upgrade over gortat. It's just not feasible.

He'd fit with this team very well imo.

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Do we want Nene?

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*Do we want 55 games of Nene?

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i'd rather pay jason smith 2 mil and get close to the same production.

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Maybe in terms of raw numbers, but not close in terms of fitting a need. Jason Smith is a terrible rebounder and not a good defender. Gortat is a decent defender and a slightly above average rebounder at this point in his career. He's a much better fit with what the Pelicans need at center than Jason Smith. Jason Smith is a good backup stretch 4, he's in over his head as a starting center.

As far as Gortat's price goes who's going to pay him $10-$12? His age (30) makes him fit very few teams. He needs to go to a team who's window is open/opening now and most of those teams don't have a ton of cap space. The list of teams that need a center, will have more than the MLE to offer, and aren't in rebuild mode are:

Washington
Dallas
New Orleans
Cleveland (Probably not, you'd think they'll keep one of Varejao and Hawes)

Would Dallas spend their money upgrading the 3 or the 5 or try to split it between both? If it's just Washington and New Orleans with interest in Gortat, and New Orleans can only offer $7, why would Washington pay Gortat $10-$12? They can pay him $8 and call it a day. Anything more would be bidding against themselves. If Washington wants Gortat they'll probably keep him, if they don't, I think he is attainable by the Pelicans.