What can Brooklyn expect out of Shabazz Napier?

PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 11: Shabazz Napier #6 of the Portland Trail Blazers goes to the basket against the Utah Jazz on April 11, 2018 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 11: Shabazz Napier #6 of the Portland Trail Blazers goes to the basket against the Utah Jazz on April 11, 2018 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
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Brooklyn Nets, Shabazz Napier
PORTLAND, OR – APRIL 1: Shabazz Napier #6 of the Portland Trail Blazers shoots the ball against the Memphis Grizzlies on April 1, 2018 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Brooklyn Nets guard situation. What is Napier’s role?

Now that Brooklyn has four point guards on their roster, let’s break down what their rotation for next season could look like. Now that Napier is a Brooklyn Net, this is not good news for two-way contract holder Milton Doyle or Summer League standout Shawn Dawson.

It is likely Napier will jump ahead of both Doyle and Dawson in the pecking order. With that being said, the likely point guard rotation for Brooklyn next season will be:

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  1. D’Angelo Russell (starter)
  2. Spencer Dinwiddie (primary backup)
  3. Shabazz Napier (third in rotation)

Russell and Dinwiddie are capable of sliding to the 2, whereas Napier is better suited to play the 1 only.

Now, nothing is confirmed yet on where Napier will be in the rotation, but it would be a surprise he jumps ahead of Dinwiddie for the primary backup. As of now, Napier’s role is likely to be a third-string point guard, but can be expecting a good amount of minutes.

He might not see 20 minutes per game like he did with Portland last season, but Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson will give him a good amount of court action. With all that said, let’s break down Napier’s game and how he played last season.