Can Napier recruit LeBron back to Miami Heat?

Shabazz Napier isn’t the first NBA draft pick to shake a commissioner’s hand wearing the hat of the wrong team. He certainly isn’t the first pick to be traded on draft night.

But it is quite possible the former UConn point guard earned a special place in draft history Thursday night when the Miami Heat made him part of the team’s strategy to keep the world’s best player from packing his bags and leaving South Beach.

Napier became the 19th player in Huskies history to be selected in the first round of the NBA draft. The Charlotte Hornets selected Napier with the 24th pick overall but before UConn fans could celebrate the reunion of Napier and former teammate Kemba Waker, the news broke that Napier was actually headed to the Heat.

The rumors that Miami president Pat Riley was desperately trying to trade up from No. 26 in order to land Napier were true.

It didn’t take long for LeBron James, the four-time NBA MVP to tweet his approval: “My favorite player in the draft! #Napier.”

James announced earlier in the week that he will opt out of his contract and become a free agent July 1. No one really expect James to head to another team. But he has made it clear he wants to be surrounded by the right supporting cast in Miami before making his plans to stay.

“I would hope so,” Napier said when asked if he is ready to play the role of recruiter in an effort to play on the same team as James.  “He’s one of the best players in the world.  So if me going there helps him come back, it just betters our chances of being a complete team.

“But at the end of the day, my job is to get to improve and work on my game so when it comes to the stage where it’s my first game, I’m ready to compete, and I’m prepared.”

This wasn’t the first time James had expressed his appreciation for Napier’s game. During UConn’s victory over Kentucky in the national championship game, James tweeted: “No way u take a PG in the lottery before Napier.”

As it turned out, Napier was the sixth point guard selected in Thursday’s draft, held at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn. Andrew Wiggins of Kansas was the No. 1 overall selection, taken by James’ former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. Dante Exum from Australia was the first point guard taken, by Utah with the No. 5 pick. He was followed by Oklahoma State’s Marcus Smart (6, Boston), Louisiana Lafayette’s Elfrid Payton (10, Philadelphia), UCLA’s Zach LaVine (13, Minnesota), and Syracuse’s Tyler Ennis (18, Phoenix).

Still wearing his Charlotte hat after walking off the stage, Napier told ESPN, “I always have a chip on my shoulder, that’s what makes me the best point guard in this draft.”

Asked about that comment later, Napier said the chip never leaves his shoulder.

“That’s what makes me who I am,” Napier said. “And I was saying that not to belittle any other point guards. There’s a reason why they’re here. But I was just saying that because that’s who I am. . . . I believe it and I’m going to prove it. What I always learned was that whatever you put in is what you’re going to get out. If I don’t put in the work, it’s not going to show.”

Napier won national championships at UConn in his freshman and senior seasons. Now he goes to a team that has played in the last four NBA championship rounds, winning back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013 with James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh forming the nucleus. Former UConn guard Ray Allen may close out his career with the Heat.

“I don’t know if I’m bringing [James] back,” Napier said. “I would love it. He’s a great guy. I’ve been to his camps. Me and him chatted a few times at his camps.

“It’s just special to know that one of the best players in the world thinks about you and appreciates your talent.”

Starting point guard Mario Chalmers, who has been part of those championship runs, is an unrestricted free agent and will likely not be with the Heat. His backup is Norris Cole, who is due $2.15 million next season. Both struggled in the postseason, especially as the Heat lost in five games to the San Antonio Spurs this season.

“We’ll have some depth there at that position,” Riley said in a tweet from the Heat. “I want to win now and we all want to win now. I’m in the present moment.

“We’re very fortunate to have Shabazz and we’re very excited for what he can bring. He’s got a lot of qualities that fit what Erik wants to do and what we want to do. We feel good about adding him to the roster. He’s a winner. He’s talented and he’s skilled. There is a competitive level about him that we like.”

If the Heat decides to pair Napier with a more veteran point guard than Cole, the Heat could save $1.6 million against the cap by trading Cole for a draft pick and signing a veteran at the league minimum, the Miami Herald reported.

“There’s always opportunity to do something great and no matter if I was going to slide in as a starter or come off the bench, I’m going to work hard,” Napier said. “I’m going to compete. That’s who I am.”

Playing in Miami would bring Napier close to the Puerto Rican community. His mother is Puerto Rican and  Nappier had a chance to play with the national team after his sophomore season at UConn but he had to withdraw because of an injury.

“It’s definitely something special,” Napier said. “It’s super special definitely because my grandmother and my grandfather, they love it down there.  If I get a chance down there to go play for them, best bet I’m going to bring them with me.

“It’s just a special moment, and knowing that there’s a lot of Hispanics down in the Miami Heat, that’s going to bring a lot more people, it’s super special, man. My mind right now is twirling.  I’m going to be honest with you.  I’m just super happy right now.”

That happiness came despite the fact he waited so long in the Green Room and watched the other point guards go before him. In the end, he ended up with a team that wanted him so badly that they spent the entire night working on a trade.

“Yeah, but at the end of the day you got drafted,” UConn coach Kevin Ollie said Wednesday when asked about the possibility of a long wait. “That worked out for Cliff [Robinson, who went 35th in 1989]. Cliff was in there about five hours. But so what? And he stuck in the NBA for 19 or 20 years. That’s what it’s all about.”