2019 NBA Mock Draft: Murray State’s Ja Morant is rising
F. North Carolina. Nassir Little. 9. player. 18.
The rich get richer. It’s impossible to know at this point whether the Celtics will use this pick (though Anthony Davis’ fate at the Feb. 7 trade deadline will tell us a lot about how Boston moves forward) but the opportunity to add Little to the team’s current core is almost unfair. A smart, hard-working defense-first wing falling into the Celtics’ lap is why NBA fans continue to get angry at this team, and it certainly seems possible as others stand out ahead of Little this year.
North Carolina had the entire week off following Little’s breakout 23-point performance against Virginia Tech last Monday, but he will need to make the absolute most with his minutes like he did facing the Hokies to improve his stock following a dismal start to the year. With Garrison Brooks, Cameron Johnson and Luke Maye playing well ahead of him in the rotation, Little needs to (and seemingly has) adjusted to a Sixth Man role the rest of the season. If Little can buy into his place on the team, focus on defense and work hard on his jump shot before June, the package that made Little a candidate for a top-three pick before the season will reappear. If not, Little floats to the morass of decent-to-good prospects between picks four and 14.
While it may seem as if Boston is all set at forward with or without Davis, that’s not true. Jaylen Brown is extension-eligible this fall and will be a restricted free agent in 2020, as is Guerschon Yabusele, while Semi Ojeleye could be gone even sooner. Jayson Tatum may be the crown jewel of a trade for Davis. That doesn’t leave a whole lot of certainty, making Little appealing should Boston make this pick — originally from the Kings — themselves.