2019 NBA Draft: Full Mock Draft 2.0 – Pelicans take Zion; who goes next?

#8. Atlanta Hawks: Nassir Little, F

School: North Carolina | Class: Freshman | Height: 6’6″ | Weight: 220 | Age: 19

Nassir Little may not have started any games in his lone year at the University of North Carolina. But in the minutes he got, he demonstrated what tremendous upside he has. Little averaged 9.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 0.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks in 18.2 minutes of action per contest.

First and foremost, Little is a high energy player. He’s a two-way wing that plays with no shortage of intensity. He thrives out in transition. The Hawks averaged 21.5 transition points per game in 2018/19, and he would compliment their high octane approach. He attacks the hoop with ruthless aggression and can finish through contact with either hand.

Likewise, he’s a force on the offensive glass. He averaged 1.6 offensive rebounds per game in his freshman season. The combination of Little and Collins attacking the glass could be a nightmare for opposing defenses. However, Little lacks the ability to stretch the floor. With his frame, he could be used in a small ball setting. But without the ability to humble defenses from the perimeter, he could struggle in that aspect.

There’s a healthy amount of room for improvement. Besides overwhelming opponents with his aggressive mentality, he doesn’t have the same finesse or natural scoring abilities others possess at his position. He’s unlikely to come in as a rookie and immediately have an impact on the floor. There will be growing pains for Little, but his upside represents a future two-way star if the aforementioned improvements are made.

– Nolan Jensen (@NolanJensen_)