Andrew Nicholson camp is pushing for the Magic to trade him to a team that would give him more playing time, and the Magic are believed to be making him and Shabazz Napier available, reports Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders. Nicholson, whose minutes have dried up the past few weeks, is making almost $2.381MM in the final season of his rookie scale contract and is eligible for restricted free agency this summer. Napier is only in year two of his rookie deal, with just more than $1.294MM coming his way this season.
Nicholson is averging 15.3 minutes per game this season, up from last year’s 12.3, but he’s only appeared in five of the Magic’s last 12 games. His 18 minutes in the team’s last game before the All-Star break represented his only double-digit-minute game since January 6th. Still, he’s been as effective as ever when he has played, averaging a career-best 3.6 rebounds per contest and draining 35.2% of his 3-pointers, also a career high.
Napier would figure to have a reduced role on the Magic following Tuesday’s trade for fellow point guard Brandon Jennings. As it is, Napier sees only 12.1 minutes per contest.
I wonder how much it would cost to get Napier (upside 3rd PG) and Nicholson who is underrated in my opinion. Maybe to Blazers for Gerald Henderson? I wish my Hornets would snag them but dont have any good matching scenarios, point being there is upside in both of these guys.
seems like he could be a stretch 4 maybe