The Miami Heat know they’ll need to make some changes to their roster if they’re to retain LeBron James next season and it appears they’re already attempting to appease their star talent by attempting to acquire Shabazz Napier.
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According to ESPN’s Chad Ford, the Heat are attempting to trade up in the 2014 NBA Draft in effort to secure a pick high enough to select Napier, who just so happens to be a favorite of LeBron James.
“Sources: Heat aggressively trying to move up in draft. Target is Shabazz Napier. LeBron thinks he’s best PG in the draft & Heat need a PG.”
The Heat own the No. 26 pick in the draft and Napier has been rumored to be going anyplace between No. 18 and No. 22 so a jump isn’t outlandish. Though, it’s not as if the Heat have a ton of tradeable assets either so they may find it somewhat difficult to find a team willing to help them, especially considering the acquisition of Napier helps James return to the Miami Heat.
If there is a silver lining for the Miami Heat however it’s that the Phoenix Suns and the Chicago Bulls own the No. 18 and No. 19 selections respectively. Both teams have been pressing hard to move such picks, so it’s not as if teams in that area aren’t willing to make a deal. But again, the Heat don’t exactly have a ton of assets that will intrigue rival teams so they may find difficulty in finding a middle ground.
Either way, it’s clear the Heat are doing what they can to make LeBron James happy, as they should.