What Does the Future Hold for Napier and the Blazers?
Whether the Blazers bounce early or fight deep into the playoffs, their cap situation is brutal for the next couple years. Next year alone, Portland will be paying (approximately) Lillard $27.9 million, McCollum $25.7 million, Evan Turner $17.8 million, Harkless $10.8 million, and Meyers Leonard $10.5 million. That’s almost $93 million of Portland’s cap going to just five players.
Not only are Napier and Davis free agents, but so is Nurkic and another important rotational player: Pat Connaughton. Retaining all four, or even three, without restructured deals, salary dump trades by the front office, or pay cuts for any/all of those four is impossible. The Blazers currently sit about $9 million over the project 2018-19 salary cap of $101 million.
Hopefully, the front office is keen on moving on from both Leonard and Turner, as neither have come close to living up to their ballooned salaries. That would give the team room to negotiate with at least half of the free agents.
For Napier, though, that still may not be enough.
The Bad News
The 2018 offseason features a small list of impactful point guards looking for new teams.
Chris Paul is more than likely going to return to Houston. Isaiah Thomas is still a huge question mark still — as is Rajon Rondo. And Tony Parker is way past his prime.
Those are the top unrestricted free agent point guards this offseason. Throw in Napier, and he might be the most sought-after name on that list.
Next: Coach’s Decision: Did Terry Stotts make the right call?
Napier is young, entering his prime, and he won’t cost teams an arm and a leg to acquire. Hopefully, Napier will take a discount to stay with Portland. The team understands his importance and his role on the team. Plus, it’s always nice to retain familiar faces on young teams.
But Napier is surely aware that — as much as the Blazers utilized him these last two seasons — he could probably get more playing time elsewhere.
Does Bazz risk moving on to a lesser team for more playing time? Does he accept less minutes and/or money on a highly successful team? Or does he stay put in Portland for less money?
Napier may not be thinking about any of that at the moment; the intensity of the playoffs is likely paramount in his mind.
But the decision will have to be made within the next few months — and it should make Rip City very anxious.