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Trail Blazers: Don’t pump the brakes on the youth movement

By Austin Carroll

SACRAMENTO, CA - NOVEMBER 12: Nassir Little #9 of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on November 12, 2019 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - NOVEMBER 12: Nassir Little #9 of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on November 12, 2019 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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A rough start to the season is the perfect opportunity for the Portland Trail Blazers to test just what they’ve got sitting on the end of the bench.

Let’s be honest with ourselves here, this has been a massively disappointing season when taking into consideration the Portland Trail Blazers had originally hoped to immediately retool and contend for a championship yet again. So far, Portland’s offseason acquisitions have not made a large enough impact to compensate for the loss of former Blazers such as Al-Farouq Aminu and Maurice Harkless.

While this tumultuous season has been filled with injuries, disappointment, and radical roster turnover, there have been a few silver linings in this rocky start. While everyone was focused in on Damian Lillard‘s superstar status and the emergence of Zach Collins and Anfernee Simons, the Trail Blazers have found real difference makers lying in wait at the end of the bench.

Nobody expected Nassir Little, Skal Labissiere, and Gary Trent Jr. to see significant play time this season. But injuries and a lack of depth forced Portland’s hand, and through some stroke of luck, these players have (to varying degrees) all outperformed their preseason expectations.

Coming out of high school, Little was a highly touted draft prospect due in large part to his athleticism, natural frame, and intangibles.Unfortunately, a shaky season at North Carolina would tank his stock and wind up with the Trail Blazers getting away with one of the biggest steals of the draft. Even as a rookie, Nassir has proven to be Portland’s best one-on-one defender.

Considering Terry Stotts usually prefers to slowly integrate young players into the rotation, Little’s rapid emergence says a lot about his character. He is always seen out-hustling the other team, crashing the boards, and playing stiff perimeter defense on some of the league’s best — even holding Pascal Siakam to 4-13 shooting.

Meanwhile, Skal Labissiere has probably been the biggest surprise for the Trail Blazers thus far. If not for injuries to Jusuf Nurkic, Zach Collins, and (now waived) Pau Gasol, Skal may have never seen any meaningful minutes. After all, he played just 74 minutes for Portland in the regular season and postseason combined last year.

Thursday night’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks marked the first time Labissiere has ever seen significant play time for Portland — logging 28 minutes off the bench. He impressed everyone by putting up 22 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 blocks. Skal now leads the team in block percentage and Defensive Box Plus/Minus.

Even Trent Jr. got in on the fun against the Bucks, earning his first real start with the Blazers in lieu of Rip City’s banged up guard rotation. He scored 13 points in 20 minutes, while also blocking a pair of shots and nabbing one steal. He shot 5-for-7 from the field and drilled three triples on four attempts. If he keeps this up, he could become an invaluable spark plug off the bench.

The Trail Blazers early struggles and injuries have ironically led them to discover the wealth of talented youth waiting to break out on the end of the bench. Little may just be the Harkless replacement we’ve been looking for. Skal looks more versatile and could possibly even replace Hassan Whiteside, giving the Blazers more flexibility at the trade deadline. Even Trent Jr. could be the answer to help replace the bench scoring lost in Jake Layman‘s departure.

Next. Should Skal Labissiere start at center?. dark

It sucks to lose. It really does. But the only way to truly learn and improve as a team is by suffering a little bit. These young guns want to win just as bad as the veterans. If they keep bringing it like this, why not give these unproven players a chance to show what they’re worth to the city?