Fansided

Report: Denver Nuggets to sign Jameer Nelson to a 3-year deal

By Luke Dahlgren

Mar 25, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Jameer Nelson (28) directs his team during the first half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 25, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Jameer Nelson (28) directs his team during the first half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /
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With Jameer Nelson returning to the Denver Nuggets on a 3-year deal, the Nuggets now have an crowded backcourt with Ty Lawson and Emmanuel Mudiay.

The Denver Nuggets are a team in limbo, perhaps the NBA team that is least relevant in league discussions. They aren’t nearly good enough to threaten for a playoff spot, but aren’t tanking bad enough to be seriously gunning for a top-3 draft pick. The Nuggets appeared to continue that recent tradition, making a move to keep themselves in their rut without collapsing entirely.

Nelson found a home in three different locations in 2014-15, splitting time between the Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics and finally the Nuggets. Playing 20 minutes per game off the bench, Nelson averaged 9.6 points on a solid 45% shooting, with 3.7 assists. Overall on the season, Nelson finished with 8.3 points, 4 assists and shot under 41%.

Of course the Nuggets already have Ty Lawson, and they were lucky enough to have high school-to-China prospect Emmanuel Mudiay drop in their laps at the seventh pick. Retaining Jameer Nelson after his competent yet uninspiring half-season in Denver mucks up the Nuggets’ backcourt while they still have desperate needs at power forward and center.

So why do this if you are in the Denver front office?

This move appears to be a set-up for a Ty Lawson trade. The Nuggets would be best served bringing Emmanuel Mudiay slowly into the offense as he develops, and Lawson is too valuable of an asset to be used simply as a transition piece. Lawson could end up in a few places around the league:

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  • Houston Rockets: The Rockets have the need for a point guard, and they have the assets to give Denver in return. Lawson would go from the limbo of Denver to joining an instant contender in the West in the Houston Rockets, and the Nuggets would have the means to develop their rookie point guard behind Jameer Nelson while grabbing a quality big (perhaps Donatas Motiejunas and another asset?).
  • Brooklyn Nets: The Nets have shown that they are never afraid to give up building for their future for a veteran player, and with the backwards-named Jarrett Jack currently penciled in as the Nets’ starting point guard, Lawson makes sense as the addition. But who exactly do the Nets give in order to nab Ty Lawson? Thad Young? And can it work with their salary cap situation?
  • Dallas Mavericks: The same salary cap issue exists here as with the Nets, plus the Mavs just inexplicably acquired Deron Williams. But Mark Cuban seems to be unwilling to accept rebuilding as a team plan, and if he is unsatisfied with D-Will – a scenario that is easy to imagine – he could encourage his front office to try to trade away some of his assets to Denver in exchange for Lawson.

However, Lawson’s current value is low. It would be smarter for the Nuggets to play him with Jameer Nelson and Emmanuel Mudiay throughout the first half of the season, then pull the trigger on the trade midway that will likely garner a better yield, plus it will throw Mudiay into the fire after he’s marinated on the bench long enough.

This of course all makes tons of sense if the Nuggets resign Nelson to a one or two year deal, but for three years? At 33 years old? The Denver Nuggets appear to be a bit too comfortable wallowing in incompetence while their team develops.

A Lawson trade does not need to be rushed, but a plan needs to develop fast.

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