Washington Wizards: 4 players to watch when NBA season resumes
By Ethan Smith
Washington Wizards Player to Watch: Shabazz Napier
Shabazz Napier’s time with the Wizards this season has been short, but it’s been solid. Solid enough to earn him a spot on the roster next season?
Maybe. A few extra games would certainly help make that decision easier. Before the season was suspended, WoA’s Jack Skolnkik wrote about Napier’s hot start with the Wizards. But it was just that. A start.
Napier has played only a dozen games with the Wizards so far. And while he’s been impressive in that short time, especially with how quickly he was able to grasp and eventually run the offense, it’s not nearly enough time to get a clear read on what Napier would bring to the table next season.
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At one point, it looked like he may make fellow point guard Ish Smith disposable this offseason. Smith has been serviceable, and at times spectacular, in his first season with the WIzards. But his $6 million dollar price tag will probably be more than what the Wizards have to pay to keep Napier around. He might not fetch a ton on the trade market, but he has value. And having Smith and Napier to sit behind Wall next season seems a bit redundant.
It would make sense to keep Napier and deal Smith for some help elsewhere, maybe a defensive-minded wing. But that’s only if Napier can prove he’s worth keeping. Since he entered the NBA in 2014, the Wizards are Napier’s sixth team in six seasons.