2019 NBA Mock Draft: The dust clears from the NBA trade deadline
Nassir Little. 7. player. 142. . F. North Carolina
Tar Heels coach Roy Williams had very few details in the aftermath of North Carolina’s home loss to Virginia on Monday about Little’s apparent right ankle sprain. However, the Charlotte News & Observer reported postgame that Little did not need a walking boot to move around the locker room. The injury occurred without much contact and is not recurring to the best of our knowledge.
As always, the absence of a key piece can help put into perspective how valuable that player is. After Monday’s loss, freshman guard Coby White said Little’s presence off the bench is vital for North Carolina in close games.
“Nas is one of our effective players off the bench,” he said. “He can score. He’s big. He’s very athletic, can knock down shots. So I think it hurts our off-the-bench scoring. If he scores 12 or 10, now we win if he’s in the game.”
Certainly, in a game the Tar Heels lost by just eight points, Little’s 9.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game could have been the difference. Little’s ability to match De’Andre Hunter’s versatility and size at forward would have been valuable as well.
This is exactly what he will bring to the NBA. While in the past we have stressed the importance of Washington grabbing a center like Jaxson Hayes, the rate they are losing means the Wizards could pick even higher and have a chance at a wing like Little. The Wizards never looked better than when John Wall and Bradley Beal were surrounded by versatile wings like prime Markieff Morris, Trevor Ariza and reserves such as Martell Webster and Trevor Booker behind them.
Little would help bring that lineup flexibility and defensive upside back as Wall and Beal age. The freshman can play center in some lineups and likely guard 2-5 in the NBA, bringing an element Washington hasn’t had in years.