Report: Mavericks' deal with Jameer Nelson a 2-year, $6M pact
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The Dallas Mavericks and point guard Jameer Nelson are at the finish line in coming to terms on a contract, and the deal is expected to be completed Thursday.
The speculation that Nelson would sign for the room exception appears to have been accurate, as ESPN's Marc Stein reports that Nelson's deal will be a two-year, $6-million agreement. The second year will be a player option, giving Nelson the freedom to bolt next summer should his value increase or the situation in Texas deteriorate.
As a team that began the offseason below the salary cap, the Mavericks were only afforded the room mid-level exception, which has a starting salary of $2.73 million with a 4.5 percent raise. That means Stein's estimate of $6 million must be rounding, as the most Nelson could earn on a two-year deal using the exception is $5.59 million.
Nelson also reportedly had the option to move to Texas and play for a different contender:
Jameer Nelson balanced finances and winning in free agency. Dwight Howard made multiple calls recruiting Nelson to Houston, sources say.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 24, 2014
In any case, the Mavs are set to add Nelson to a point guard rotation that also includes Devin Harris and Raymond Felton, each at under $4 million themselves.
It will be interesting to see how the playing time shakes out, with three veteran hands, each who brings something a little different to the table at both ends. Nelson averaged 32 minutes, 12.1 points and seven assists last season with Orlando, while Felton averaged 31, 9.7 and 5.6 with New York and Harris averaged 20.5, 7.9 and 4.5 with Dallas. Someone's minutes are taking a hit, even if Harris spends some time at the two.
"I am excited," Nelson told the Dallas Morning News. "My 3-point percentage hopefully will go up playing with better guys. The looks will be there."
Nelson's suggestion that his long-range shooting could improve is probably fair. He handled the ball more in Orlando than he will in Dallas, and his 37.4 percent career mark from behind the arc has sat at just 34.5 percent over the past two seasons. It will also be one of the primary tasks the Mavericks ask of him, so they're clearly betting that's the case.