Whether or not you buy in to the theory that LeBron James convinced the Miami Heat to draft Shabazz Napier with a single tweet, the reality is that Napier ended up in South Beach and was supposed to be the point guard of the future.

The UConn product had a disappointing rookie year, averaging just 5.1 points, 2.5 assists, 2.2 rebounds and 19.8 minutes in 51 games. He had a hard time running the offense, struggling to find space against defenses. It doesn’t help that he shot a horrendous 38.2 percent, taking away a major dimension from his game.

A rookie year isn’t enough to judge a player, but let’s take a look at the whole package.

What Went Right

Napier had a six-game stretch in which he scored in double-digits in November. It looked like, for that time, the Heat had found their future point guard. Fans wondered if Napier should start over Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole. Napier showed a knack for making plays at the end of games–reminiscent of his days at UConn.

What Went Wrong

Even though he was heralded for his ability to run the pick-and-roll, Napier had a hard time executing on the NBA stage. He averaged just 2.5 assists per game as a point guard who couldn’t shoot.

Teams new they could crowd his vision (at 6-1, he had a hard time seeing over and around defenders) by meeting him high above the arc, something that would completely stall the offense. Napier’s inability to lead the offense or make a shot is what made him unplayable.

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Where He Can Improve

Napier’s main concern is his poor shooting. The NBA rejects point guards who can’t shoot, no matter how good they are in other areas. Look at Rajon Rondo, for example.

Napier needs to become a better shooter. Maybe he won’t even be the pick-and-roll maestro he was in college because of his size, but he can become a good contributor if he can become a quick, off-the-screen shooter. He just needs to get that shot going.

Looking Ahead

Napier will enter the second year of a modest rookie-scale contract, but the Heat have found the point guard of the future when they traded for Goran Dragic at the NBA trade deadline.

The good news is that, with a starting point guard in the fold, Napier will have time to develop and the Heat could afford him that patience. The bad news is that the Heat don’t really need him. In the latest Heat Check podcast, I talked about how Napier is the player most likely to get traded. If the Heat can flip the young point guard for some veteran help (or a future draft pick) they may just do it to clear the roster spot.

If he’s on the Heat next season, don’t expect to see him much on the court. Napier needs to work on that shot of his before he sees significant playing time.