I think we're going to get to see Little as a rookie, and maybe quite a bit. He's physically ready to compete, and he's a beast attacking the basket. He defends. Guys like that can get on the floor quickly.
Atlanta has the potential to be pretty sick in a few years. Atlanta Memphis New Orleans I like the future of all 3
I have to disagree. The knock on him is that his on court decision making is well behind his physical talent. He has the tools, but he has to learn to use them. Frankly, I expect Stotts to bury him the way he did Simons. If he cracks the rotation before year 3, it will be a pleasant surprise.
A few interesting guys I think went undrafted: Bowen, Naz Reid, Tacko Fall, Kris Wilkes, Ky Bowman, Dort and King. Actually, lot of guys with Pacific Coast ties. Wouldn't mind seeing them get a few of them in summer league, see if they might be worth a two-way contract. I think we actually worked out Bowman, who is close to an NBA ready point guard, who is strong with the ball and can shoot it pretty well. Thought he might get picked late. Could be an option for cheap PG depth.
If he was going to be handling the ball, I could agree with you. But he's not. His current value is as an energy guy. I'm not sure what Mo Harkless gives you that Little doesn't, other than experience. I guess that's the biggest thing. Are any of our wing forwards so imposing to keep Nassir Little off the floor? He plays with more energy than Mo, Chief or Jake.
I think that depends on his defensive abilities, instincts work ethic. Stotts would find him minutes even without good decision making on the offensive end if he can actually take the opponents best wing on the defensive end. That's a lot to ask of a rook, but he already has the physical tools to lockdown on the defensive end. Offense can come in time. Don't get me wrong, I would be shocked if he got +10min/game, but I do think he could hit rotation a few months in.
We don't have an "energy" guy. Little can be that guy, getting comfortable with other aspects of the game while just coming in and attacking the paint, D-ing up, and hitting the boards. That's what I was trying to say with the whole Harkless comparison earlier. I wish Harkless was that guy, but in all his years here I still don't know what Mo's role is and I'm not sure he does either. But he's certainly not a guy I expect to see throwing his body around, just driving opponents crazy with his activity on both ends of the floor. He's a decent defender, but not a guy I expect to see in someone's grill. I don't know if he lacks the motor or the mindset, but you just never know what you are going to get from him. Little can come in and be Kenneth Faried or Jae Crowder or even Draymond for 10-12 minutes per night as a rookie and I think be very effective in that role and a huge benefit to the team.