Denver Nuggets final report card: Jameer Nelson

Over the next few weeks, the BSN Nuggets staff will review the Nuggets season, player-by-player. We’ll look at their performance from 2015-16 and forecast what type of impact they’ll make next season.

Reflecting on 2015-16

After coming over in the middle of the 2014-15 season from the Celtics, Jameer Nelson impressed Nuggets brass enough for them to re-up the veteran point guard on a three-year, $13.5 million contract to remain in Denver.

When Nelson was on the floor for Denver this season, he did his job.

He orchestrated the offense for the second unit and even at times the starters, and provided depth and leadership for an extremely young Nuggets roster. Nelson was one of the players that coach Michael Malone’s trusted the most, as he frequently played heavy minutes into the fourth quarter and even closed games earlier in the season when rookie point guard Emmanuel Mudiay struggled.

In 39 games for the Nuggets this past year, Nelson averaged 7.7 points and 4.9 assists in 26.6 minutes. He shot 36.8 percent from the field and 29.9 percent from 3-point range, a sharp regression from his numbers the season before.

Nelson did have his moments this season, especially earlier in the year.

He scored 16 points on 11 shots to go with 4 rebounds and 4 assists in 26 minutes in a win over the Pelicans and had 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists in 38 minutes in a December win over the Timberwolves.

For short spurts and when filling in for an injured starter, Nelson can maintain the status quo. He’s a steady hand off the bench and one that coach Michael Malone trusts with the ball.

A sprained left wrist kept Nelson out of the lineup for the majority of Denver’s games after the All-Star break, but a summer of rehab and rest should do Nelson well. The 12-year vet recently stated that surgery was an option but it looks a couple months off from basketball this summer should be enough for the wrist to heal on its own.

Final report card grade: C+

Looking ahead to 2016-17

The reason Nelson’s status with the Nuggets for next season remains up in the air is due the emergence of D.J. Augustin as the backup point guard.

But Augustin is a free agent and the Nuggets have to decide if he’s valuable enough to throw money at and bring back as a reserve. With the rising salary cap, the contract Augustine is in line for this summer will be more than the deal Nelson signed last year.

The Denver Posts’ Chris Dempsey noted a few weeks ago that if Nelson can’t get more minutes next season, he could look to take his talents elsewhere.

“Nelson’s preference is to return to the Nuggets next season. Not only just return, but get back to playing a big role on the court. He’s got two years left on the three-year, $13.5 million deal he signed with the team last summer. But he played a total of just seven minutes in the Nuggets’ last 24 games of the season as D.J. Augustin took over the primary reserve point guard role. Nelson doesn’t want a repeat of that next season.”

“If it appears that a drop off in playing time is in store again, Nelson wouldn’t be apprehensive at all to authorize his agent to request he be traded. His first choice, however, is to return to the Nuggets with his role restored.”

If Nelson did try to get out of Denver, he likely wouldn’t be without work for long. He’s well-respected around the league and there’s an excess of teams looking for depth at the point guard position.

However, if he does remain with the Nuggets, it would likely mean Augustin signs elsewhere and Nelson would retain his role from last season.