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Portland Trail Blazers: 2016 Offseason Grades

By Gerald Bourguet

Mar 31, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Boston Celtics guard Evan Turner (11) shoots the ball past Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum (3) during the fourth quarter at the Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. The Trail Blazers won 116-109. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 31, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Boston Celtics guard Evan Turner (11) shoots the ball past Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum (3) during the fourth quarter at the Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. The Trail Blazers won 116-109. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports /
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Portland Trail Blazers
Apr 10, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Shabazz Napier (13) enters the game during the second half against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 118-96. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Nabbing Napier

In a one-sided deal with the Orlando Magic, the Blazers acquired third string point guard Shabazz Napier in exchange for cash considerations. With Elfrid Payton, C.J. Watson and D.J. Augustin already on board, the Magic had no use for the rarely used youngster whose NBA career has yet to find traction.

Once drafted by the Miami Heat because of LeBron James‘ public support of his abilities, Napier has had a hard time living up to the hype. Now heading into his third NBA season with his third team, Napier holds career averages of 4.4 points and 2.1 assists per game on .361/.347/.762 shooting splits.

Last season in Orlando, Napier really struggled to carve out a role. Though he shot 36.4 percent from three-point range as a rookie, Napier’s long range accuracy plummeted to 32.7 percent in his new environment.

Portland will be hoping he can find some of that long range accuracy again, and Napier’s playing time may be dependent upon how well he can spread the floor, since C.J. McCollum often runs the point with the bench unit whenever Damian Lillard gets a break.

Napier may wind up being a draft bust, but all the Blazers had to give up was cash to swing a 25-year-old point guard who once dominated at the collegiate level. Perhaps there’s reason for hope in an environment where plenty of other young players have thrived recently.

Grade: B-

Next: Too Turnt For Turner

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