Ex-Portland Trail Blazer signing one – Shabazz Napier
Shabazz Napier could be the perfect backup point guard for the 2021 season. The 29-year-old Napier is coming off his best NBA season in two spurts with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Washington Wizards.
Napier played two seasons for the Blazers in 2017 and 2018.
This season he averaged double-digit points for the first time at 10.3 points, along with 4.7 assists and 1.2 steals. Though Napier is considered a journeyman point guard in the NBA as he has already played for six NBA teams in seven years, he is a strong backup who can do a bit of everything.
The Blazers lack shot creation on the second unit, so they could use a point guard who can get his own shot while also being able to create for others.
Per Cleaning the Glass, he is a 34.8 percent shooter from three – a respectable mark at around league average.
Napier also forces turnovers at a high rate – something this Blazer team really struggles with. TIn the two years he played in Portland he finished in the 93rd and 96th percentile when it came to steal percentage.
Napier might not be the most glamorous free agent signing, but he is one of the best available on the open market as a backup point guard. His market is likely around the veteran’s minimum. This could be on either a one or two-year deal.