# 25 - Houston Rockets

 

photo credit Thomas Shea via Northwestern Magazine

What I’d Do:

Shabazz Napier - Connecticut

6’1” (6’3” wingspan), 175 lbs, 7/14/1991 (22 years old)

As Brian Windhorst pointed out on the Lowe Post today, Daryl Morey’s mastery of the CBA and the NBA salary cap has been his most impactful legacy on the league (besides killing it in table tennis).  The fact that he could trade for James Harden and sign Dwight Howard in consecutive off-seasons and still realistically have the flexibility to make room for Lebron is insane.  I don’t think that actually happens, but it’s crazy that he’s put himself in that position.  Daryl is going to figure out a way to move Asik and Lin’s contracts in the near future to give himself flexibility once free agency begins in about a week or so.  That’ll leave Houston to rely heavily on Patrick Beverly at PG.  To supplement that, I think Houston should draft Napier here.  

Chad Ford reported that the Heat are desperate for Shabazz Napier in an attempt to appease Lebron.  In our scenario they miss out by one pick, but in reality someone is going to pick Napier much earlier than this.  It’s believed there’s no way he slips past Toronto at # 21.  I’m not sold.  I mostly selected Napier here because I know teams are high on him and because I think Houston trades Jeremy Lin if they can.  I know Napier can score efficiently and he has all the ‘intangibles’.  As a PC fan, I saw more of Napier over the last four years than most of these prospects.  He never struck me as a legitimate NBA prospect.  He always seemed to be to have to work too hard to score and that was against college competition.  

It makes me wonder how high Bryce Cotton might go if PC had made a run in the tournament. Cotton has all the same intangibles Napier does.  He is probably a better scorer as well.  I just don’t view Napier as anything more than a bench guard which makes me chuckle a bit when I hear he’ll be used as Miami’s bait to lure Lebron.

What I Think They’ll Do:

This part of the draft is tough to peg.  Chad Ford has them selecting Jarnell Stokes.  I think some crazy stuff happens in this draft and somebody a bit more enticing slips to them.  Maybe it’s Kyle Anderson.  Cleanthony Early makes some sense for them as well with the departure of Garcia, Casspi, and Jordan Hamilton.  

Crazy Draft Day Trade:

I also think there’s a good chance this pick gets packaged with Lin or Asik to move those contracts.  Utah and the Sixers are the best options.  Both teams would be willing to stomach the contract for one year in exchange for the pick similar to what Utah did last year with Golden State.