Orlando Magic to acquire Shabazz Napier, according to report

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported on Sunday that the Magic “agreed in principle” to trade for Napier, the second-year Miami Heat guard.

The trade with the Hornets not only cost the Heat the pick utilized on Napier but also a 2014 second-round pick that was utilized on Semaj Christon, a 2019 second-round pick and cash in order to move up two spots to select Napier. However, newly-appointed coach Scott Skiles must have some plans for Napier, whose $1.4 million contract is way above the rookie average and now gives Miami some more flexibility in managing its overcrowded roster.

At the time it was thought that the Heat went after Napier because LeBron James had stated that he would like to play with the college star, but James ended up signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers so the pair never got to play together. His role in Orlando could be very similar to last season, but with C.J.

Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski was the first to report the news. He was given a real chance to backup Goran Dragic after the trade deadline, but quickly fell out of favor and had appeared once in the Heat’s last dozen games before he was shut down for the season due to a sports hernia. A rookie shooting guard last season, the Heat had hoped Johnson could transition into a combo guard by training camp.

Shabazz Napier #13 of the Miami Heat passes during a game against the Philadelphia 76ers at American Airlines Arena on February 23, 2015 in Miami, Florida. Watson to back up starter Elfrid Payton, per ESPN.

Should this be the case, Appling could return to the National Basteball Association D-League’s Erie Bayhawks, whom he spent the 2014-15 season with, per Robbins.