NBA Draft: FanSided Editor’s Mock Draft

Apr 7, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Connecticut Huskies guard Shabazz Napier waves to the crowd after cutting down a piece of the net following the championship game of the Final Four in the 2014 NCAA Mens Division I Championship tournament against the Kentucky Wildcats at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

25. Houston Rockets – Shabazz Napier, University of Conneticut

Pick made by Brett Roberts

Editor for the Houston Rockets’ Fansided Site, 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.