#18. Indiana Pacers – Nassir Little
Nassir Little out of North Carolina was widely expected to be a Top-5 pick in this year’s draft due to his stunning athleticism and sterling high school exploits. He came in as UNC’s prized recruit after whiffing on Zion, but by the end of the year, it was clear that Coby White was the team’s best draft prospect and even Cam Johnson might have a higher floor than Little, who just couldn’t quite get comfortable during his brief tenure with the Tar Heels.
Despite a star-crossed season, Little still showed plenty of flashes in his freshman campaign, enough that he will still likely get lottery looks from multiple teams due to his ferocious style, nose for the basketball and elite athleticism.
The problem was never about motor or physical prowess, but rather feel and basketball IQ. North Carolina head coach Roy Williams plays a certain way, but it seems that Little just couldn’t quite make it work with his amazing physical profile and nose for the basketball.
Though he often provided a spark when he entered the game, he wasn’t the go-to guy for UNC this season.
If drafted by the Pacers, Little will be able to come along slowly as this team is set up to make it to the playoffs for a few years coming due to the brilliance of Victor Oladipo and the coaching of Nate McMillan. If a rebuild does occur in the coming years, for some reason, Aaron Holiday and Little would certainly make for an interesting young core in Indiana for years to come.