NBA Mock Draft: FanSided Editors Represent Their Teams

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25. Houston Rockets – Shabazz Napier, UConn

Picked by Brett Roberts at Space City Scoop

While Patrick Beverley has been impressive defensively, the Rockets still have Jeremy Lin under contract for one more season. Acquiring a third-string point like Shabazz Napier makes a lot of sense moving forward, especially since neither Beverley nor Lin have been overwhelmingly good. Both are serviceable as starters, but neither offer the hope of becoming All-Star caliber. Napier may be lacking defensively, but that only makes him a better fit in Houston, where he will be able to flourish in the high octane offense. Adding a power forward makes a lot of sense, but there is a dearth of 4-men in this draft class, and none of the options available this late in the draft offer the hope of an immediate starter. Napier, meanwhile, could eventually evolve into a starting NBA point guard.