Magic sign PG Nelson to contract extension
By John Denton
FLORIDA TODAY
ORLANDO-- Jameer Nelson and the Orlando Magic reached an agreement Tuesday night on a contract extension that will keep the point guard with the team for at least five more seasons, according to a source familiar with the negotiations.
Nelson had until midnight Wednesday to get an extension signed or he would have become a restricted free agent next summer. Fearing that he might have had to play this season without a contract extension, Nelson revealed recently that he had taken out an insurance policy to cover him in case of a career-threatening injury.
The exact specifics of the deal were unknown, but the Magic had been offering Nelson a five-year, $30 million deal. Nelson, 25, had hoped to get a contract similar to the $42 million pact that point guard Devin Harris signed with the Dallas Mavericks.
It is believed that the two sides met somewhere in the middle.
"I'm a starting point guard. I need starting point guard money," Nelson said on Monday, a day before the deal was finalized.
Nelson has been one of Orlando's best players this preseason, averaging 9.9 points and 5.0 assists per game. He has thrived in new coach Stan Van Gundy's wide-open offense and has a sparkling 35-to-9 assist-to-turnover ratio.
FLORIDA TODAY
ORLANDO-- Jameer Nelson and the Orlando Magic reached an agreement Tuesday night on a contract extension that will keep the point guard with the team for at least five more seasons, according to a source familiar with the negotiations.
Nelson had until midnight Wednesday to get an extension signed or he would have become a restricted free agent next summer. Fearing that he might have had to play this season without a contract extension, Nelson revealed recently that he had taken out an insurance policy to cover him in case of a career-threatening injury.
The exact specifics of the deal were unknown, but the Magic had been offering Nelson a five-year, $30 million deal. Nelson, 25, had hoped to get a contract similar to the $42 million pact that point guard Devin Harris signed with the Dallas Mavericks.
It is believed that the two sides met somewhere in the middle.
"I'm a starting point guard. I need starting point guard money," Nelson said on Monday, a day before the deal was finalized.
Nelson has been one of Orlando's best players this preseason, averaging 9.9 points and 5.0 assists per game. He has thrived in new coach Stan Van Gundy's wide-open offense and has a sparkling 35-to-9 assist-to-turnover ratio.
posted by Mike from Illinois @ 1:14 AM
4 Comments:
At 1:27 AM,
Mike from Illinois said…
I didn't see this coming, but I'm glad it did!
This will be a big load of Jameer's mind, knowing he has the security of a new contract now.
Nelson has shown this preseason how well he is adapting to the new offense (a 35/9 AST/TO ratio). He could easily average between 15-17 ppg and 7-8 asts per game this season. If he could do that, and DHoward and RLewis do what's expected of them, and there are no major injuries on the team, with all the depth at guard and small forward, this season could really be something special in Orlando.
Bring on the Bucks!
At 6:51 PM,
Matt said…
I don't want to comment on this at the opening night. I will after the night is over.
At 11:05 PM,
Matt said…
Otis Smith lacks consistency of a wise GM. The guy who wanted Darko to prove his worth in the open market which led to losing a BIG - in a league where BIGs are at a premium - does not apply the same rule to Jameer, a point guard who is replaceable even within the current roster of the team. Jameer has proven nothing since preseason does not count. I would still like to see the details of the contract. Jameer, in my view, is worth no more than 5.5 million a year on a five-year contract. The comparison with Devin Harris is unwarranted. Harris is bigger than Jameer and a much better player defensively. Even on offense, although not as good as a shooter as Jameer, he is faster and has the explosive driving ability to the basket. Jameer had the audacity to claim that as a starting point guard for the Magic, he needs to get paid the salary of a starting point guard in the league. I didn't know that there is a standard salary for a starting PG in the league. Is there?
At 4:02 AM,
Mike from Illinois said…
Matt, I can't argue with your logic... you're right in what you say.
I guess my response to your comments is that Otis Smith is 100% sold that Jameer is the right guy to run the team at PG for the next five years, based on his success in running the new offense in the preseason, even though, like you said, the stats in preseason don't count.
Smith didn't want this to be a distraction all season, so he got the deal done at the time he did, just before the start of the regular season; unlike his dealings with Darko, like you said, where he wanted Darko to prove his worth in the open market.
As we discussed on here before, I don't think any of us are happy about losing a young, talented big guy like Darko, and Smith certainly could have handled the situation better (as Darko's agent also could have). But, it is what it is and all we can do is wish Darko luck in Memphis; at least he's in the West and will only face the Magic twice a year.
Darko's stats against SA on WED night: 28 mins played as starter, 8 pts, 7 rebs, 2 blocks.
I honestly believe Otis made the right decision regarding Jameer, however, and am glad to see that Jameer will be here the next five years.
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