Lol I didn’t literally mean it that way, maybe I should’n’t have used the word produce. I just meant that he’s outplayed his contract if he’s even half the player Jaylen Brown is at half the contract. My bad on that.
well, that's one of the "problems"....the other, bigger problem is that Little can't stay healthy and because of that we don't have any reliable clue if the flashes he has shown is anything close to sustainable. you used Dort as an example, OK. I could use Cody Martin who signed a 3 year deal for 7.5M/year I'd think, except for ages, he's a better comp for Little than Dort. He and Little play the same position, while Dort, and his new contract, were drafting off of the momentum and similarities to Marcus Smart. Further, Martin is a much better 3 point shooter and we know that has great value in a wing. Seems like Portland would be taking a substantial risk paying Little twice as much as Martin also: Bruce Brown @ 6.6M/year Donte DeVincenzo @ 4.6M/year KCP @ 13M/year Jalen Smith @ 5M/year (not a wing, but a young player showing potential like Little) Amir Coffey @ 3.6M/year Caleb Martin @ 6.8M/year Pat Connaughton @ 9.4M/year Kyle Anderson @ 9M/year Tauren Prince @ 7.5M/year KCP is the only player there with a 12-15M/year deal. Difference is KCP is established and is being paid for what he can do, not what he might grow into doing. Sure, the Blazers can risk overpaying on a hunch. that's what they are good at apparently, but most times it backfires. There is the Dort contract and the Keldon Johnson contract you can hold up as a pair of examples of the high end for Little. But there were a lot more 'bargain' contracts given out this summer for players about the same level as Little, and many with upside like Little too (and many of those players are much better 3 pt shooters). Also I'll point out that I said 12-15M/year for Little would be a lot more acceptable on a team-friendly deal; like a 4 year deal with a team option in the 3rd season.
I just don't see it, man.. I mean, I see the guy everyday, he's NOT VERY BIG!!!!! He is often injured, and I just can't see him ever being anything more than a 6/6 guy. If that. Gawd I hope I am so wrong on this, but I wouldn't pick him on my team at Laurelhurst Park. I just don't see what he does...3pt shooting? rebounding? perimeter defense?...Nothing there that stands out. That said, I don't have an issue with him starting, only because I am crazy in love with what Hart/Winslow do together on defense. I try to keep things real, as I feel, and I am mostly positive, but Nassir Little is the 10th or 11th guy on this team, IMO.
Gotcha. Wasn't sure if you felt because of injury or lack of skills. Kind of a combo of everything in your opinion. I disagree and hope you are wrong, but your opinion absolutely holds merit. Thanks!
As Eric and Torey often like to point out, you don't defend with your head, so how high your head is off the ground really doesn't matter. What matters is how high you can reach with your hands. Jabari Walker, who will likely play power forward, has a standing reach of 8 feet 9 inches. Walker's height is 6 feet 6.75 inches in bare feet. Nassir Little has a standing reach of 8 feet 8.5 inches. Little's height in bare feet is 6 feet 4.5 inches. So although Little is 2 1/4 inches shorter than Walker, and might not be very big, his reach is only 1/2 inch less than power forward Walker.
Good point. However, it is often the case that the taller guys also have more weight to them and reach without being able to stand your ground can also be an issue. See the multitude of concerns people had/have about Chet and what we saw in SL when smaller, but bigger, guys were moving him around. There is more to it than just reach.
you don't defend with standing reach either...you defend with your legs, with reaction, with lateral mobility, with mass, and yeah, a little with wingspan but wingspan is the least important of all those IMO
Draymond green has a small wingspan and is not the quickest guy, yet he's an excellent defender. You have to be smart and determined too....
Yup, that is the average wingspan of a power-forward in the NBA and is shorter than Nasir Little. The reason Green is a great defender is because he is able to process angles and understand what to do with them quickly, not because he is taller, faster or has longer wingspan.
I agree with your overall point. Good defense is so so much more than size. Cp3 is a good example of that over the years. We have needed better defenders for a few years, not necessarily taller defenders. and certainly, coaching plays a factor as well.
Gerald Wallace was the 25th pick in the 2001 draft. He was injured a bunch earlier on in his career while getting DNPs as well. SAC actually didn't protect him for the expansion draft and CHA scooped him up. Hard not to see the parallels when you see their playing style and early stats. Nas: (also the 25th pick) Just wrap Nassir in bubble wrap.