Jameer Nelson's Shoulder Injury May End Season

According to the Orlando Sentinel, it seems Jameer Nelson may be facing season ending shoulder surgery. Nelson will definitely face the surgery at some point this year, but he and the Magic are hoping it can be postponed until after the season.

General manager of the Magic, Otis Smith, said, “Either way,” Smith said, “he’s going to have to have it repaired.”

Nelson is coming off a career year in which he was just selected by the coaches to his first NBA All-Star game.

Also, with Nelson’s assistance, the Magic have become an elite team in the NBA and have moved into consideration as one of the handful of teams that can come out of the Eastern conference. The blow of losing Nelson crushes any dreams of the Magic holding up the Larry O’Brien trophy at the end of the year.

Most experts still contend that the Magic, even with Nelson, didn’t have a shot to come out of the East and could not compete against the defending Champion Celtics or Lebron Jame’s Cavaliers in a seven-game series.

Although I agree that the Cavs and Celtics are better teams, I do believe the Magic did have a chance to beat them in the playoffs and make it to the Finals.

The Magic are an excellent shooting team, and if they were to get hot in the playoffs, I believe their outside shooting could push them over the edge. Without Nelson, I don't see it being a possibility. Therefore, if Nelson has to have his season cut short, what do the Magic do this year?

Sign Marbury

At some point, Marbury will be released by the Knicks and what better way for Marbury to get back at his naysayers than lead the Magic deep into the playoffs.

Do I think Marbury could do it? No, not only do I think he is a chemistry killer, but I also believe that he has flat-out lost his basketball talent. He is not even close to the same player he once was.  However, I do believe it is worth the risk by the Magic to sign him and see how things go.

Make a Trade

The Magic have no real tradeable assets that they would want to get rid of. Nobody of significance is in the last year of their contract, and everybody else is too talented and in the mix on the Magic to be sent away.

There is the possibility of getting rid of Keith Bogans, but I do not believe you could get much in return. Bogans could be helpful in the playoffs with his solid defense.

Stand Pat

This is probably the Magic’s best option. The Magic are still very young and their best years are probably ahead of them. There is no reason to mix up the chemistry or gamble on desperate trades. 

The Magic can adjust accordingly with their offensive sets, and I would imagine we will see Turkoglu playing plenty of point-forward for them while Nelson is out. IMO, Turkoglu is the Magic’s best all-around player and would say that he deserved the All-Star nod over Lewis and Nelson.

Maybe his stats are not better than the other two, but he makes the Magic click by creating mismatches for opponents, he makes the right passes, and has a deadly touch from the outside.