8P9S NBA Mock Draft 1.0: With the 26th pick, the Indiana Pacers select…
By Ben Gibson
No. 15 — Detroit Pistons: Nassir Little, F
School: UNC | Class: Freshman | Height: 6’7″ | Weight: 220 | Age: 18
If somehow Little were to fall this far, which feels unlikely, I’m going to take him anywhere outside of the top seven. He would give the Detroit Pistons or any other team some versatility on the wing. His basketball IQ, or least the application of it, is still a work in progress, but we’ve already seen the freshmen begin to find his comfort zone at UNC.
His 9.3 points and 4.3 rebounds a game isn’t impressive, but the tools and potential he has certainly make him an intriguing prospect. You can’t coach physicality on either side of the ball, and the fact Little finishes well at the rim and can cover any position but center only adds to his value. His feel for the game and streakiness — shooting under 30 percent from deep — are concerning, but he is 19 years old.
There’s a reason to hope his weaknesses can be addressed with some time in the NBA. Any team could use him, and certainly, the Pistons need to bring more talent into the fold, especially at a low price. — Ben Gibson