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Trail Blazers: Breaking down a decade of draft history

By Ryan Gaskin

NEWARK, NJ - JUNE 28: Damian Lillard shakes hands with NBA Commissioner David Stern after being selected number six overall by the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2012 NBA Draft at the Prudential Center on June 28, 2012 in Newark, New Jersey. 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 License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2012 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - JUNE 28: Damian Lillard shakes hands with NBA Commissioner David Stern after being selected number six overall by the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2012 NBA Draft at the Prudential Center on June 28, 2012 in Newark, New Jersey. 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 License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2012 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Michael J. LeBrecht II/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael J. LeBrecht II/NBAE via Getty Images) /

2019

Picks

(Photo by Cato Cataldo/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Cato Cataldo/NBAE via Getty Images) /

34. SF. Nassir Little. 25. player. Scouting Report. Highlights. North Carolina

Once the dust settled from the 2019 draft, those who weren’t focused Zion felt that Portland had gotten themselves an absolute steal with Nassir Little.

Little, a freshman out of UNC, was projected to go a little higher than No. 25, and experts believed the Blazers could have a potential star on their hands. Little struggled with injuries and inconsistency in college, and played just 18 minutes a game, but the potential is there.

He has already shown signs of his ability to become an élite defender; Little has the size, toughness and foot speed to be able to guard a number of positions in the NBA. His offense is slightly more sporadic, as it was at UNC.

It seems he has the tools and skill to do most things on the offensive end, but he is not yet practiced in any of these areas. His jump-shot in particular needs a lot of work; teams are regularly leaving him fairly open on the perimeter.

It does look like Little has a future in Portland though, he already has plenty of clear qualities, and he seems to have the work ethic to keep getting better. It is obviously too early to decide on a clear hit or miss, but I think Little will prove his doubters wrong.

Verdict: Undecided

dark. Next. 30 greatest players in Blazers franchise history

The Top 5

The Blazers have had their ups and downs this decade, as every team has, and they hit the jackpot in 2012 when they drafted Damian Lillard. To conclude, here are my top 5 (production so far) Portland draft picks from the last decade.

  • Damian Lillard
  • CJ McCollum
  • Will Barton
  • Allen Crabbe
  • Meyers Leonard