The Orlando Magic are in the middle of a rebuild and Jameer Nelson is one of the few holdovers left since Dwight Howard's departure. If a team offers a first-round draft pick for the 31-year-old point guard, though, Orlando would "surrender Nelson today," according to ESPN's Marc Stein.
Orlando Magic would trade Jameer Nelson for first-round draft pick, according to report
The Magic would be open to trading Nelson, but have a high asking price.
Hannah Foslien
Nelson is in his 10th season with the organization and is the current starting point guard. He has averaged 15 points and 7.5 assists in the first two games of the season.
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There are two years remaining on Nelson's contract. He is due $8.6 million through the 2013-14 season, but is only guaranteed $2 million in 2014-15, according to ShamSports.
The Magic were reportedly "heartbroken" when Oklahoma State's Marcus Smart decided to stay for a second year in college. Orlando intended to draft the breakout point guard if they had won the draft lottery. They did not win it though, Smart stayed another year with the Cowboys, and the Magic instead drafted Victor Oladipo with the second overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft.
It’s no surprise the Magic would be open to accepting a first-round pick in exchange for Nelson. The team is creating a core for the future and Nelson doesn’t fit into the long-term plans of general manager Rob Hennigan. He is past his prime and creates a potential logjam in the backcourt, but a first-round pick is a high asking price for an over-30 point guard.
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