Tag: Nassir Little

3 players the Nets could bring in based on NBA trade deadline rumors

With the 2023-24 NBA trade deadline on Thursday at 3 PM ET, here are three players that the Brooklyn Nets could bring in.

The Brooklyn Nets have been talked about heavily as the NBA trade deadline on Thursday at 3:00 PM ET is quickly approaching. After starting the season with a 13-10 record, Brooklyn is now saddled at a disappointing 20-30 amidst a host of injuries and roster concerns as the team looks to improve the roster for a potential playoff push.

The Nets have been linked to plenty of players over the course of the past month or so and while there is expected to be less movement because of the new CBA, Brooklyn is predicted to be one of the teams that will be active given their struggles. The Nets also have some tax considerations that they’re keeping in mind as they move forward as well.

Brooklyn is also in an interesting spot in terms of their rebuild as they are not good enough to contend for a title anymore, but have enough talent on the roster to be a playoff team. With that being said, here are three players that the Nets could bring in based on recent trade rumors:

Nine former UNC Basketball players on 2023-2024 NBA rosters

The NBA is well-represented by former Tar Heels, with nine suiting up across seven teams. The newest professional Tar Heel is Leaky Black.

NBA fans, sing your praises – the regular season is finally upon us.

Opening night kicked off on Tuesday, Oct. 24, with Lakers-Nuggets and Suns-Warriors giving fans an appetizer. There will be a full slate of games tonight, highlighted by Celtics-Knicks and Mavericks-Spurs, plus more to come throughout the weekend.

Tar Heel fans are highly anticipating the UNC season opener on Monday, Nov. 6 against Radford, but there’s good reason for them to also be excited about the NBA.

Nine former Tar Heels – Leaky Black, Cole Anthony, Day’Ron Sharpe, Harrison Barnes, Danny Green, Nassir Little, Coby White, Cam Johnson and Reggie Bullock – are on NBA rosters.

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A couple of them are starting, a few are valuable role players while one is a rookie.

Let’s take a deeper look at each former Tar Heel and how long they’ve been in the NBA for. Will any of them walk away with another championship?

Here is everything the Trail Blazers have received in return for Damian Lillard (so far)

This is MUCH better than what Miami reportedly offered.

After months of speculation, the Portland Trail Blazers traded Damian Lillard. In return, they have received a hefty package of players and picks.

The seven-time All-Star was sent to the Milwaukee Bucks in a three-team trade involving the Phoenix Suns. He was traded alongside former teammates Jusuf Nurkic, Nassir Little and Keon Johnson.

In return, the Trail Blazers received a package centered around Milwaukee’s Jrue Holiday. Portland, however, then re-routed Holiday to the Boston Celtics and landed two helpful players (Robert Williams and Malcolm Brogdon) and additional draft assets.

RELATED: The fallout from the Damian Lillard trade might have the Trail Blazers in big trouble with the NBA

Portland sends:

  • Damian Lillard
  • Jusuf Nurkic (to PHX)
  • Nassir Little (to PHX)
  • Keon Johnson (to PHX)

 

Portland receives: 

  • Deandre Ayton (via Suns)
  • Robert Williams (via Celtics)
  • Malcolm Brogdon (via Celtics)
  • Toumani Camara (via Suns)
  • 2024 1st-round pick (via Warriors)
  • 2029 1st-round pick (via Bucks)
  • 2029 1st-round pick (via Celtics)
  • Two first-round pick swaps with Bucks (2028, 2030)

So that’s three first-round picks and two pick swaps as well as a former No. 1 pick (Ayton) and other valuable assets.

Meanwhile, the package could grow a bit more before it is all said and done. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Trail Blazers are expected to keep Williams to pair alongside Ayton in the frontcourt.

However, the trade package could continue to grow if Brogdon is traded to another team before the season begins at the end of the month.

All things considered, this return is obviously much better than anything the Miami Heat reportedly offered.

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Former UNC wing Nassir Little has big night

Former UNC basketball wing Nassir Little went for a season-high 28 points this week as he continues to have an efficient offensive season.

Former UNC basketball wing [autotag]Nassir Little[/autotag] had a season-best performance this week for the Portland Trail Blazers.

Little, who is in his fourth NBA season, went for a season-high 28 points. He was 11-of-21 from the floor and 3-of-6 from 3 in the Blazers’ loss to Oklahoma City.

His 28 points were second-most in his career, just two points off his career-high which he had in his second season.

In 52 games and three starts this season, Little is averaging 6.6 points 2.7 rebounds and shooting 53.7 percent from three on 1.4 made 3s per game.

He has 13 double-digit scoring games this season.

This offseason, Little and the Blazers agreed on four-year, $28 million extension following a breakout 2021-22 season. He averaged 9.8 points and 5.6 rebounds in 42 games and 23 starts.

“He didn’t play very much before I was here, or at least have a consistent role,” Billups said last year. “So one of the things for him was to try to earn the trust of the coaching staff, and he did that. He earned the trust of his (teammates). He did that. He accomplished so many things that were necessary for him as a young player in a short amount of time that I’m happy and proud of him for.”

Little has spent his entire career with the Blazers. He was selected by Portland with the 25th pick in the 2019 NBA draft.

Below are highlights of his 28-point game.

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Nassir Little signs extension with Portland Trailblazers

Former UNC basketball standout Nassir Little is staying in Portland with a new contract extension per multiple reports.

Former first-round pick[autotag] Nassir Little[/autotag] is staying in Portland.

Ahead of the 2022-23 NBA season, the Trail Blazers and Little have agreed to a four-year extension worth $28M per multiple reports. Little was entering the final year of his rookie deal with Portland and has now agreed to stay with the franchise.

Coming off a shoulder injury that cut his 2021-22 season short, Little is back this year and was battling Josh Hart for the starting small forward spot. Little lost out on that spot but will be a big part of the team’s rotation this year.

The 22-year-old Little has averaged 5.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per game through 138 career games so far. He’s shooting 45.5 percent from the field including 31.7 percent from the three-point line.

The Blazers are on the road in Sacramento to open the season on Wednesday night.

Nassir Little eyeing starting small forward role with Portland Trail Blazers

Former North Carolina Tar Heel Nassir Little is in the mix to become the starting small forward for the Portland Trail Blazers.

The National Basketball Association has started preseason action, and one Tar Heel could be leaping the starting five.

The Portland TrailBlazers are looking to crack the championship code, and former UNC basketball player [autotag]Nassir Little[/autotag] is in the mix to start for the team. Little enters his fourth NBA season, all with Portland, the team that drafted him in the 2019 NBA draft with the 20th overall pick.

Little emerged as a valuable contributor to Portland’s game plan in year three, seeing an average of 25.9 minutes of action per game versus the 13.3 his second season. Along with the increase in minutes, Little saw an uptick in production, averaging 9.8 points and 5.6 rebounds versus the 4.6 points and 2.7 rebounds a season prior.

Now, as he embraces his fourth year with the franchise, Little could see another uptick in action as a starter. Trail Blazers GM Joe Cronin spoke to the media, saying that the small forward position will be an open competition listing Josh Hart, Justice Winslow, Gary Payton II, and Little.

When Little spoke on media day about the possibility of becoming a starter, he was all smiling.

“I’m just excited for the opportunity,” Little continued, “my first three years have been a steady progression; now, being in the conversation for being the potential starting small forward is one of the only things I can ask for.”

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

Kyrie Irving tweaks ankle, calls out Blazers’ Nassir Little for ‘unnecessary’ dive

Kyrie Irving says there’s “no place” in the game for this scary play.

Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving appeared to roll his ankle on a scary play in the fourth quarter of Monday’s game in Portland but remained in the game, and afterward called out Blazers forward Nassir Little for what Irving felt was an ‘unnecessary’ play.

Irving and Little chased after a loose ball that was rolling out of bounds and had gone off Irving. Little raced alongside Irving and slid to try and gain possession, but as he went to the ground Irving had to leap to avoid his leg being taken out from under him. Little continued sliding as Irving landed, and Kyrie tweaked his left ankle upon impact. Irving called it a “bad play,” but said he had nothing against Little personally.

Irving also said he would be ready to play on Wednesday against the Bulls.

Little defended himself on Twitter on Tuesday morning, tweeting that people are “delusional” if they believe the dive was unnecessary.

The Blazers went on to win the game, 114-108.

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Damian Lillard correctly predicted the Trail Blazers’ recent run

Trail Blazers rookie Nassir Little revealed the message that Damian Lillard told him, guaranteeing they would make the playoffs this season.

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Behind an incredible run, Damian Lillard led the Portland Trail Blazers to the eighth seed in the NBA Playoffs after defeating the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday in the Western Conference play-in game.

The Trail Blazers started off the season restart in ninth place, 3.5 games behind the Grizzlies. Portland needed to maintain their position in ninth place and keep the Grizzlies’ lead to within four games in order to at least clinch a spot in the play-in game.

Coupled with the Grizzlies struggling during the restart, and with Lillard playing at an All-Star level, the Trail Blazers not only entered the play-in game as the eighth seed but defeated the Grizzlies to move on to face the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the playoffs.

Lillard was unanimously selected as the NBA Player of the Seeding Games after averaging an NBA-high 37.6 points and 9.6 assists. In his final three games, Lillard scored 51 against the Philadephia 76ers, he tied his franchise scoring record with 61 points against the Dallas Mavericks and finished with 42 points and 12 assists in a win over the Brooklyn Nets.

And Lillard correctly predicted his future success.

Trail Blazers rookie Nassir Little revealed on Twitter following the win over the Grizzlies the message that Lillard told him, which guaranteed the team would make the playoffs this season.

The recent run by Lillard and the Trail Blazers now has them in the playoffs with a matchup against the Lakers. Prior to the start of the playoffs, many around the NBA, including Charles Barkley, have looked at the Trail Blazers as a potential team to upset the Lakers in the playoffs.

When considering the teams the Lakers could have played, they likely didn’t want to see the Trail Blazers based on how well Lillard is playing. Whether or not Portland can pull off the upset is another conversation but it is clear the Lakers will have their hands full with Lillard & Co.

The series tips off on Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET on TNT.

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Trail Blazers’ Nassir Little was placed into concussion protocol

Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts said Little entered concussion protocol after suffering an injury Monday in practice.

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Portland Trail Blazers rookie Nassir Little was placed into the concussion protocol program Monday after practice, according to head coach Terry Stotts.

Stotts said Tuesday that Little took a fall in practice and was placed into the concussion protocol program. He did not practice on Tuesday and Stotts is unsure when Little will return. Little will likely not participate in the Trail Blazers’ first scrimmage on Thursday against the Indiana Pacers.

Little put in a lot of work in the gym during the season suspension and returned with a noticeably better shot. He put up over 11,000 jump shots, according to the Trail Blazers’ shot data, and earned praise from Damian Lillard on his improved shooting form.

Little said on social media that he will be back on the court soon.

Little averaged 3.6 points and 2.3 rebounds in 48 games played prior to the season suspension on March 11. He shot 43% from the field and 23.7% from 3-point range.

The Trail Blazers begin the season restart July 31 vs. the Memphis Grizzlies.

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How a conversation with Damian Lillard helped change Nassir Little

The Trail Blazers rookie said he has just been “different” since speaking with All-Star teammate Damian Lillard.

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Portland Trail Blazers rookie Nassir Little put up over 11,000 jump shots this summer and improved his shooting form but it was a conversation with five-time NBA All-Star, and teammate, Damian Lillard that changed his approach to the game.

Little played sparingly this season with the Trail Blazers, logging just 48 appearances prior to the season suspension. His shot was perhaps the biggest knock against him entering the NBA Draft last year as he was an inconsistent shooter in college at North Carolina.

So, he went to work.

Little put up the most 3-pointers of any Trail Blazers player this summer, according to Jason Quick of The Athletic. His new and improved shot earned praise from Lillard himself and that compliment helped spark a conversation between the two players.

“It turned out to be a pivotal moment for me,” Little said. “It was a great conversation, one that really resonated with me and changed my whole outlook. Ever since then, honestly, I’ve just been different.”

The work put in by Little resulted in an improvement of six to seven points on his 3-point percentage, according to the Trail Blazers’ shot data. Lillard said he noticed more arc on the shot, which has resulted in more accuracy. Lillard essentially told Little that he couldn’t be afraid to fail.

“Before that, I was shooting the ball well, and then he told me that, and … you know, Dame is such an inspirational guy,” Little said. “As opposed to just watching him play, if people had the opportunity to just sit and talk to him, it’s crazy how inspirational he can be. So, when he said that, I took it to heart and applied it.”

The improved shot hasn’t gone unnoticed, either. Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts told reporters that he has noticed an improvement from Little and that he is playing with more confidence. Teammate Zach Collins said Little has played great in practice at the Walt Disney World Resort.

After playing a limited role with the team this season, it is unclear if Little will see a bigger role when the Trail Blazers resume play on July 31 against the Memphis Grizzlies. Once Little does play, though, fans may see a much different player on the court than they previously saw this season.

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