5. Shabazz Napier
The idea of trading Shabazz Napier doesn’t make much sense from a salary standpoint. After all, he is due to earn just under $1.3 million for the 2015-16 season. Making matters even better for the franchise is the fact that the Heat hold team options for the 2016 and 2017 offseasons.
Yet, Zach Lowe of ESPN reports that Miami has put out “feelers” in regards to trading the 23-year-old point guard.
Trading Napier makes sense for one reason—the team doesn’t believe he has much of a future with the franchise.
When the University of Connecticut product was acquired last summer it was with the idea he’d be the team’s franchise point guard for the future. That all went down the drain once Dragic was acquired last February and agreed to terms at the beginning of the free agency period.
When factoring in that Tyler Johnson could very well be Dragic’s backup for next season, the Heat don’t have much room for the former first-round draft pick to contribute.
Similar to Haslem, but for different reasons, Napier can be dangled in a trade package with another player to entice suitors. Unlike UD, the point guard could still very well develop into a long-term starter in this league if given an opportunity by another NBA franchise.
It just won’t happen in Miami, which is likely why the Heat are attempting to trade the young guard.
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