The Rockets badly want to swing a deal with the Nuggets for Nene, but Denver isn't expected to trade the center.

"Houston wants Nene bad but sources say Denver unlikely to trade Nene or JR Smith before deadline," Chris Broussard of ESPN wrote on his Twitter page.

Nene can opt out of his contract and become a free agent this coming summer and there have been reports that Denver will try to sign him to an extension now that they have traded Carmelo Anthony.