NBA Rumors: The Miami Heat didn’t believe Shabazz Napier, who was recently traded to the Orlando Magic, was ‘good enough’ to play in the NBA

The Miami Heat officially traded Shabazz Napier to the Orlando Magic a few days ago for a second-round pick. What they really traded Napier away for was essentially nothing, because they’re never going to see that ultra protected pick.

In essence, the Heat practically gave Napier away — a second-year point guard. Turns out, the Heat believed that they had seen enough. According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the Heat just didn’t believe in Napier anymore.

[via Miami Herald] One NBA general manager who spoke to the Heat said Heat brass realized Shabazz Napier “was not good enough. At that size (6-1), you have to be really quick or a very good shooter, and he’s neither.”

That’s a pretty rough statement to say about a player that has been in the NBA for one season. Considering that he was injured, and bounced around in the NBA D-League, for about half of it, makes it even more questionable.

Do the Heat really believe that Napier isn’t good enough to play in the NBA, or is there something more to this move?

Sure, if you conspire long enough, you can reach the conclusion that Pat Riley didn’t want Napier on the team anymore simply because LeBron James was a big reason why they even drafted him. But even that’s a bit overboard.

While Napier did have his struggles in year 1, he also did show some bright spots and improvement. He wasn’t a great shooter and height has never been an advantage for him, but to simply give up on a prospect, which the Heat knew he was going to be coming into the NBA, after one year is downright head-scratching.