Uprooted: Nelson Plays for 3 NBA Teams in a Month

Last Thursday nearly 40 players were moved at the NBA trade deadline, relocating to new teams halfway through the season. Jameer Nelson had a head start on them.

In a league of constant movement, Nelson was one of the anomalies, playing the first 10 years of his career on the Orlando Magic. Drafted by the Denver Nuggets with the 20th pick in 2004, the Magic acquired him that night in exchange for a 2005 first-round pick.

The point guard came to Orlando the same season as Dwight Howard and helped grow the team from a sub-.500 squad to a title contender. He was there for the playoff runs and was still around for the rebuilding phase after Howard got traded.

But in late June of 2014, Nelson’s lengthy tenure with the Magic came to an end. He was waived and signed a two-year deal with the Dallas Mavericks, a playoff team, in July. At 32, Nelson entered what he thought would be a new phase and a chance to win. But after playing for a single organization for his entire career, he was thrown into a roller coaster of transactions: three teams in less than 30 days.

The Boston Celtics were looking to move Rajon Rondo early in the season, and the Mavericks were interested. On December 18, Nelson was participating in a holiday event with two families he had “adopted” for Christmas. During the gathering, his 13-year-old son posed a question that caught him off guard.

“I guess he saw it online,” Nelson told Basketball Insiders. “He said, ‘Daddy, are you getting traded?’ I said, ‘I don’t know.’ I still did my appearance… I was spending time with [the families].”

After the event, Nelson found out he had been traded from the Mavericks to the Celtics as one of the many players involved in a deal for Rondo. He packed a bag and left for Boston at 8 a.m. the next morning. That night he was introduced, along with Jae Crowder and Brandan Wright, as the newest members of the Celtics.

“I was actually excited,” Nelson said. “I was ready to come and play and try to help, do what I can for the team and organization.”

He understood, however, the Celtics were building toward their future with a young, developing group. He brought minimal belongings with him from Dallas, knowing his new condo could be a temporary residence.

The veteran with another year left on his deal wasn’t part of the bigger picture. After appearing in six games for the Celtics, he was traded once again. This time, to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Nate Robinson on January 13.

“I was asleep taking a nap,” Nelson said. “I woke up around six o’clock (to a phone call) and my agent told me I was getting traded. I had to gather my thoughts and told him I’d call him back.”

Another team, one he had only faced 19 times. After the latest news sunk in, Nelson spoke to the Nuggets’ front office to get more familiar with the organization. He made his debut with the team on January 16 and is averaging 8.6 points and 4.8 assists for them.

“I didn’t know too much about Denver,” Nelson said. “They are a West Coast team and I had been in the East Coast my entire career. You don’t get to see too much of a team unless you’re playing in the same conference. I like it. I like it here. It’s a team that wants me, a team that wanted to trade for me.”

From having a solid foundation to being uprooted, Nelson views the numerous moves with a positive outlook. He was able to call one NBA city home for the majority of his career. While the uniform has changed since then, the job has stayed the same.

“It was a little different,” he said. “I’ve been blessed to be in one place for 10 years and to continue my career.”

Now an expert on relocating on the fly, Nelson offers newfound advice.

“Keep your bag packed just in case,” he said. “Always stay ready.”