Cavaliers dump vets; Napier, Fredette on the move
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. Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images/AFP
Cleveland made some moves on Sunday (Monday Manila time) and unloaded Brendan Haywood, Mike Miller, and two future first-round picks to Portland for cash considerations, according to reports.
Seen as a salary dump move, the Cavaliers basically took nothing in return and freed themselves from any salary obligations to bolster the runner-up core they had from last season.
The Trail Blazers, who are rebuilding after the departure of long-time star Lamarcus Aldridge, are expected to waive both Haywood and Miller.
Studs who had exceptional collegiate careers also found themselves on the move.
Miami shipped second year guard Shabazz Napier to the Orlando Magic in exchange for a conditional second round pick.
The 24-year-old University of Connecticut alumnus was a part of the Heat’s last ditch effort to entice Lebron James to re-sign last year, but with Miami locking up Goran Dragic for five-years, he found himself on the outs.
Napier struggled to translate his collegiate game, a sensational outing in the 2014 NCAA tournament, in the NBA and only averaged 5.1 points and 2.5 assists before a sports hernia injury sidelined him at the end of the season.
He, though, had good showing in the Las Vegas Summer League and should be a welcome addition to Orlando’s youthful guard rotation which has Victor Oladipo and Elfrid Payton.
Meanwhile, Jimmer Fredette signed to a training camp deal with the San Antonio Spurs.
The sharp-shooter from Brigham Young University, who was also named as the 2011 National College Player of the Year, has failed to find a stable home in the NBA after being drafted by Milwaukee at 10.
Playing in Sacramento, Chicago, and last season with New Orleans, Fredette gets a much needed career reboot as he joins the championship-caliber roster of the Spurs, who are willing to gamble on a youthful shooter in their already stacked roster. CFC
