New Orleans Pelicans Roster News 2017: Pelicans Sign Veteran Point Guard Jameer Nelson

By Noriel See, Christian Post Contributor Monday, October 23, 2017

Well, it didn't take long for Jameer Nelson to find a new team.

The New Orleans Pelicans have announced that they have signed the veteran point guard. They didn't disclose the terms of the deal, but The Vertical's Shams Charania has reported that Nelson has inked a one-year deal with the team. ESPN's Bobby Marks said the deal is worth $2.2 million.

Pelicans had to waive Jordan Crawford to make room for Nelson on the roster.

Nelson was waived by the Denver Nuggets last Wednesday because they had to create room on the roster to sign Richard Jefferson and he cleared waivers on Friday. According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets and Houston Rockets were interested in signing him as well.

The 14-year pro will give the Pelicans more depth at the point guard position while Rajon Rondo recovers from sports hernia surgery, and Nelson's already familiar with the offense they want to execute since assistant coach Chris Finch was a member of the Nuggets coaching staff last season.

"He's a veteran guy and he played in a system that we're trying to install. Obviously, he's familiar with Coach Finch and some of the things we're trying to do offensively. He's a guy that's made some big shots over his career," Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry said, via NOLA.com.

Nelson was actually available on Sunday when the Pelicans took on the Los Angeles Lakers and he has already made an impact off the bench.

But with Rondo out, the Pelicans will have to decide whether to start him or bring him off the bench in the coming weeks.

"We've looked at it and we could see (him starting or him coming off the bench) as being really positive for our team. It's just a matter of us getting together again and really thinking it out and mapping it out so we could see what's best," Gentry stated.