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The Portland Trail Blazers have exercised the fourth-year contract options of Noah Vonleh and Shabazz Napier, per an NBA.com report. Both players were drafted by the Charlotte Hornets in 2014, and both are now under contract with the Trail Blazers through the 2017-18 NBA season.
The Portland Trail Blazers have exercised the fourth-year contract options on forward Noah Vonleh and guard Shabazz Napier, it was announced today by president of basketball operations Neil Olshey.
Vonleh has developed slowly in Portland, gaining valuable experience as a starter for much of the 2015-16 season, but playing just 15 minutes per game. Still just 21 years old, there is a lot of room for him to grow. His current focus on defense and rebounding should earn him modest court time in a crowded frontcourt during the season to come.
Napier began his NBA journey with a draft day trade to the Miami Heat, but was a poor fit in South Beach. The Orlando Magic bought low and acquired him from the Heat, but failed to put together a working system under one-year head coach Scott Skiles. The Trail Blazers bought even lower, bringing Napier to Portland, where he has excelled in preseason and will have a chance for real stability.