The cases for and against trading Nassir Little
Nassir Little was drafted for his promise to become a two-way star, capable of creating for himself and others on offense, while locking down other creators on defense.
While it hasn’t exactly panned out that way, he’s starting to show the signs that scouts first identified in him, despite a disappointing stint with the North Carolina Tar Heels.
On defense, he’s well on his way to becoming a certified clamper. He’s shown impressive instincts, despite receiving limited playing time prior to this season. While a little undersized at forward at just 6’5, Nas’s length, athleticism, and energy more than make up for his shortened stature.
On offense, he’s mostly cashed in on transition opportunities, second-chance points, and catch-and-shoot threes thus far, but has shown the ability and willingness to get to the rim off the bounce. Once he figures out how to finish when he gets there, he’ll be much more lethal of an offensive threat. With a more refined inside touch and strong development on creating good looks for himself with the rock, Little will have all the tools to be a two-way star.
Pros for trading Little:
Immediate impact – As of right now, Nas has less of an immediate impact on winning than Ant does. If they trade McCollum, Anfernee Simons would be appointed the uber-important position of third guard for the Blazers and will have to shoulder more playmaking responsibility, along with sparkplug scoring off of the pine.
Regardless of who gets moved next for Portland, Little’s role will likely remain the same: an energizer and defensive force on the reserve unit.
Offensive Consistency – While Little’s defense, activity on the boards, and overall impact as an energizer will be hard to replace, it will be easier than finding someone who can replicate Anfernee Simons’s offensive efficiency for the reserve unit.
Cons for trading Little:
Less trade value – Trading Little might mean landing a smaller fish in the transaction, while possibly giving up the better player between him and Ant.
While trading Simons is riskier in the sense that Ant has a safer floor and ceiling, there’s certainly the chance that opting to trade Little instead would result in a smaller haul in return and Nas becoming the better prospect in the future.
Lack of depth at forward – Even if the Blazers trade CJ and Nas for a star wing, say Jaylen Brown, that will only leave the Blazers with one true small forward. Sure, Norman Powell, Robert Covington, Larry Nance, and Tony Snell can all moonlight at the three, but each is less than ideal at that slot.
If they make that trade and Brown goes down with an injury, the Blazers will be left stranded without a good option at small forward.
Defensive versatility – The hope is that Portland can trade away CJ McCollum and bring in a ringer to upgrade the defense in their starting lineup. If they have to include Little in that move, though, they’d be losing one of the few versatile defenders they had on the roster.
Losing Nas would mean taking two steps forward, but one step back on defense — and that’s if who they land in return is a plus-defender.
Hopefully, the Blazers will be able to make the trade they need without having to include either of their two young stars. With each passing day, this difficult decision is starting to become like picking your favorite child.