Complete grades for all 30 teams in the 2019 NBA Draft
Portland Trail Blazers
Nassir Little (No. 25)
On a Portland Trail Blazers squad in need of fillers next to its star backcourt, Nassir Little is a fitting selection for the front office at 25th overall. His 7’1” wingspan and 224-pound frame are ideal for switching onto guards while also allowing him to sprint back down low and wrestle with opposing bigs.
To truly unlock his potential as a high-end valuable role player, Little must improve on his 26.9 3-point percentage. Until then, he’s still got the physical traits to make an impact on the defensive end while wreaking havoc offensively off cuts and rebounds.
No. 25 Pick: Nassir Little, Portland Trail Blazers
— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) June 21, 2019
Used his athleticism well in the open floor last season. 25% of his possessions came in Transition where he scored 1.143 points per Transition possession [71st percentile]
Full Scouting Report: https://t.co/ZpsatYhbgl pic.twitter.com/oa328kh5Iq
The Blazers are coming off their first appearance in the Western Conference Finals in well over a decade. Unlike after previous postseason failures, massive changes were not needed for a team that has what it takes in what has become a wide-open NBA landscape.
In Little, they get a low-risk potential replacement for free agent Al-Farouq Aminu, should he decide to go elsewhere, or someone to pair with the Chief. Little is the type of guy who may not show up on the stat sheet. When assessing value for who helped bring home a win, don’t be surprised to hear his name mentioned a lot in the coming year.
Grade: B+