Pelicans sign veteran point guard Jameer Nelson

In a surprising move recently, the Denver Nuggets decided to part ways with veteran point guard Jameer Nelson to make way for the Richard Jefferson signing. The journeyman then became a free agent with the New Orleans Pelicans not wasting any time and swooping him up.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Pelicans have signed him to a deal.

Free-agent guard Jameer Nelson, just two days after being waived by the Denver Nuggets, has agreed to a deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, league sources told ESPN on Saturday.

Apparently, the move was to address the absence of newcomer Rajon Rondo. The one-time NBA champion recently had surgery for a sport hernia and will be out four to six weeks as a result.

Rondo was one of the team’s most significant free-agent acquisitions this past summer and was thought to be a great piece added alongside Anthony Davis and his former teammate, DeMarcus Cousins. Unfortunately, that trio will have to wait, and in the meantime, Nelson will look to shoulder the load in the backcourt along with Jrue Holiday.

Nelson spent two and half seasons with the Nuggets putting up some decent numbers in a backup capacity at the point guard position. Nelson averaged 9.2 points, 5.1 assists, and 2.6 rebounds last season with Denver. He also shot 44.4 percent from the floor and 38.8 percent from beyond the three-point line.

Although not a game-changer for the Pelicans, Nelson does provide veteran experience and will be a formidable replacement for Rondo until he returns after recovering from surgery.