How Nassir Little Could Breakout for Blazers Under Chauncey Billups
The pressure Damian Lillard's reported frustration puts on the Trail Blazers certainly means Neil Olshey is more likely to pull the trigger on a major trade this summer. Olshey admitted as much during Chauncey Billups' introductory press conference, stressing it was his responsibility to "make Dame happy" by maximizing his championship window at all costs.
But suggestions from multiple parties that Portland's core will remain intact, combined with the limited scope of C.J. McCollum's trade value, ensures the Blazers' potential improvement is most likely to come from incumbents. Is there room for internal growth under this new coaching regime that wasn't available to the Blazers with Terry Stotts on the sidelines? Billups and Olshey certainly think so, and it's vital to Portland's future—with or without Lillard—that improvement comes to pass in 2021-22.
Which holdover stands to benefit most from the Blazers' coaching change? Portland would be best off if it's Nassir Little.
The No. 25 pick of the 2019 draft took significant strides during his sophomore season, consistently flashing despite limited minutes to an extent that made Stotts publicly earmark him a permanent rotation spot in April. Searching for answers to help Portland emerge from a weeks-long nadir, though, Stotts quickly backtracked, settling on an eight-man rotation that left Little on the bench as the Blazers ripped off 10 wins in 12 games to close out the regular season.
Don't mistake Portland's late-season success without Little on the floor as evidence of his current or coming value, though. Playing for a coach whose two-way philosophies stem from basketball tenets of movement and versatility, Little could cement himself as an integral piece for the Blazers during Billups' debut season.
Little's relative lack of advanced ball skills make him far more effective playing off the catch than a live dribble. Billups' staunch belief in ball and player movement, as well as advantages gained by working multiple sides of the floor on the same possession, should give Little ample chance to exploit a scrambling defense off kickouts and extra passes.
In tandem with his much-improved 37.5 percent shooting on spot-up three-pointers last season, the Blazers' newfound commitment to flow and continuity offensively will afford Little ample opportunities to attack close-outs with a spread floor for hard-charging finishes at the rim.
Note where and with whom Little's playing in the clips above: At forward in small-ball lineups that include at least four three-point threats.
Stotts' reneged promise of a rotation spot came with Little slotted at shooting guard, a role that mitigated his strengths and magnified his weaknesses. Little doesn't have the on-ball burst or wiggle to regularly beat his man to the paint. Playing the wing full-time not only matches him up with slower-footed forwards, but allows Little to play off advantages forged by others instead of being tasked with creating them himself.
Even a simple kickout to Little in space could be all the momentum he needs to produce a good look when being checked by bigger players.
Don't expect Little to see much if any time at guard in 2021-22. Portland's backcourt rotation is set with Damian Lillard, C.J. McCollum, Norman Powell and Anfernee Simons. It's on the wing and interior where the Blazers face rotational question marks, and Billups' comfort playing small means Little will be given every chance to answer them.
Derrick Jones Jr. will, too, assuming he picks up the $9.5 million player option on his contract. While both players could earn regular burn under Billups given their defensive versatility, Little's superiority as a shooter and overall decision-maker should give him an early leg up on Jones as Portland's first forward off the bench.
But the gap between Little and Jones offensively will only matter so much if the former can't match the latter's defensive impact. Little is an explosive leaper with incredibly long arms, attributes on display for a handful of highlight-reel blocks last season. It's his ability to check smalls in downsized lineups that prioritize switching, though, which could most determine how big a factor Little plays for the Blazers next season.
Little could be much more than a linchpin of small-ball units if he can seamlessly switch from big to small and moonlight as Portland's designated stopper. His occasional struggles containing the ball and executing help responsibilities last season notwithstanding, Little believes he has the tools to emerge as an elite defender.
"I know I have the athleticism, the speed, the strength—I think I have all the tools to be one of the best defenders in this entire league," he said in April.
Natural talent has never been an issue for Little.
First at the University of North Carolina and then under Stotts with the Blazers, his inability to carve out a comfortable niche has been rooted in ongoing skill development and on-court fit with regard to scheme and personnel. The way Billups hopes Portland plays on both ends, though, aligns perfectly with Little's physical profile, burgeoning shooting chops and innate capacity to make quick decisions.
The cash-strapped Blazers, with or without a roster shakeup, desperately need an incumbent player to pop. It might have happened for Little in his third season regardless, but Billups' arrival makes the possibility of his breakout campaign much more feasible than it would have been otherwise.