NBA role players who could become stars elsewhere: 16. Nassir Little
One of the deeper cuts on the list, Nassir Little has shown more potential as a defensive impact player than anyone who watched him in college would have suspected. He has been able to guard most wings, more than many of the members of the Portland Trail Blazers can say for themselves. However, he has shown progress in every facet of his game, one of the young standouts on an otherwise veteran roster.
So far this season he is posting a per-36-minute line of 13.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.3 steals, 1.1 blocks and 1.1 assists per game. He posts decent efficiency, albeit on limited attempts to date. For an offense with so many high-usage players, Little has found a way to make the most of every chance he is given.
If the Blazers were to make some sort of move to bolster their current roster, Little is the kind of piece that could potentially entice a team into taking a chance. His offensive game is almost entirely unexplored but the potential is real. He was one of the top recruits in a high school class that included RJ Barrett, Zion Williamson, Darius Garland and more. The potential has been clear for years. Now some team needs to be willing to put in the time to develop it.