The Miami Heat traded up two spots in the 2014 NBA Draft to land Shabazz Napier, who was coming off an amazing NCAA tournament run at UConn where he lead Uconn to the National Title. That rose Napier’s draft stock way up, and many believe LeBron James, who was playing for the Miami Heat at the time, was the reason the Heat picked Napier also because of a few tweets.
No way u take another PG in the lottery before Napier.
— LeBron James (@KingJames) April 8, 2014
When the Heat made the trade to the Hornets after they picked Napier, LeBron sent out the following tweet.
My favorite player in the draft! #Napier
— LeBron James (@KingJames) June 27, 2014
Just a little over two weeks from when that Tweet was posted, James decided to return to Cleveland, leaving many to point fingers and laugh at Pat Riley and the Heat for taking LeBron for what most see as ‘because LeBron tweeted positive about him.’ Napier’s lackluster rookie season only added more fuel to fire, averaging 5.1 points, 2.5 assists, and 2.2 rebounds per game in 51 regular season games for the Heat.
After just one season in Miami, the Heat are shipping him off to another city in Florida, as the Heat and the Orlando Magic have agreed to a trade that would send Napier to the Magic in-exchange for a protected second round pick, a pick the Magic will not get if they finish within the top five record wise in the league in 2016.
Can confirm Yahoo report of Heat trade of Napier to Magic. Deal is expected to be formally announced Monday.
— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) July 26, 2015
Napier is expected to be the Magic’s third string point guard, severing as a back-up to Elfrid Payton, and C.J. Watson, who the Magic signed to a three-year $15 million dollar deal this Summer.
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