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Jameer Nelson and Stan Van Gundy are about to party like it’s 2009.
The former Magic duo have been reunited in Detroit after the Bulls traded Nelson to the Pistons for Willie Reed before Thursday’s trade deadline.
Sources: Detroit is sending center Willie Reed to the Bulls for Jameer Nelson, who shores up Pistons' PG rotation.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 8, 2018
Nelson, the Magic’s franchise leader in assists, played under Van Gundy in Orlando from 2007 to 2012, a stretch that was highlighted by appearances in the 2009 NBA Finals and 2010 Eastern Conference Finals.
Nelson, 35, was acquired by the Bulls last week as part of the trade with the Pelicans for Nikola Mirotic but never played a game for Chicago. Nelson, who was waived by the Magic in 2014, will be moving on to his seventh NBA team.
Nelson gives SVG - also the Pistons president of basketball operations - a familiar face, depth and a veteran presence at the point guard position. The Pistons have been starting former Magic guard Ish Smith in place of the injured Reggie Jackson.
Stan Van Gundy LOVES point guards he knows well. He stuck with Jameer Nelson for a long time in Orlando. He brought in Rafer Alston (who played for him in Miami). He was hesitant to play Ish Smith at first in Orlando, but then Ish earned his trust so SVG brought Ish to Detroit.
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) February 8, 2018
Now we just need Van Gundy to make a deal with Charlotte for Dwight Howard and the whole gang will be back together again.