Los Angeles Lakers: 5 bargain targets during 2018 NBA free agency

3. Shabazz Napier, PG — Portland Trail Blazers (restricted)

Seth Curry would be a great addition, but, realistically, he’s more of a shooting guard. The Lakers already have a quality backup shooting guard in Josh Hart. What they need is a backup point guard who can give Lonzo Ball a rest and step in if he happens to get hurt again.

Shabazz Napier is one of the most intriguing backup point guards set to hit the open market this offseason. While he is a restricted free agent, it’s not like the Portland Trail Blazers have a ton of money to work with. They currently carry one of the worst cap situations in the NBA, which will make spending very difficult for them this offseason.

That’s why the Blazers could realistically renounce Napier’s rights, sending him to unrestricted free agency. If that ends up becoming reality, the Lakers would be wise to check his asking price.

Napier is coming off a breakout 2017-18 campaign in Portland. In 74 appearances (10 starts), he averaged 8.7 points, 2.0 assists and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 42 percent from the field. When called upon to play in the place of the injured Damian Lillard, he played well and even pitched in a couple of surprise performances off the bench.

Despite all of that, I don’t think his stock is high enough to warrant a major pay raise. After making about $2.4 million with the Trail Blazers last year, I could see the Lakers landing Napier for not a whole lot more than that.