Portland Trail Blazers: 2017-18 player grades for Shabazz Napier

Final grade

Shabazz Napier entered the season hoping for a much bigger role on the team. He believed he had more to offer the Blazers, and answered the call when head coach Terry Stotts put him in a more prominent position. He was the crafty scorer and playmaker that Portland needed at the backup point guard spot. As a result, he came away with a career-best campaign.

While this was his best season, Napier still has a ways to go before he can be considered a consistent starter-level player. Despite knowing how to get to the basket, he struggles mightily as a finisher. He also overshadows his playmaking skills with his tendency to be a ball-stopper. However, at 26 years old (27 on July 14), there may still be some potential for improvement.

Napier has earned himself a major payday based off of his 2018 production. He is a restricted free agent and it will cost Portland nearly $3.5 million to retain his negotiation rights. It wouldn’t be surprising to see a team bank on his potential and attempt to swoop in with a big offer. It also might not be the craziest idea for the Blazers to match any competing offer sheets.

Wherever he ends up, Shabazz Napier showed in the 2017-18 season that he belongs in the NBA.

Next: Complete 2018 NBA Draft grades for all 30 teams

Grade: B-