Nelson Faces Season-Ending Surgery

Magic point guard Jameer Nelson faces shoulder surgery that would end his season, but the team is trying to see if the procedure can be delayed.

Orlando general manager Otis Smith said on Tuesday that they are evaluating whether Nelson can return in "two to six weeks" and then have the surgery in the offseason.

"Either way," Smith said, "he's going to have to have it repaired."

Nelson told the Sentinel that he is going to take some time to weigh his options, while Smith weighed the pros and cons of him returning without having surgery.

"If you rehab it and play, the likelihood that it comes back out again is pretty significant. So, then you start dealing with other issues from there," Smith said. "Our concern is always for the player's future. When you have as much invested in him as we have, you have to think about long term.

"What's the long-term implications if this thing pops out again?"