Little — not Nassir — should be taken from the NBA preseason. It serves as a tune-up for teams introducing new players, coaches and game plans before the rigours of the 82-game season begin.
But for this year’s chapter of the Portland Trail Blazers, these four exhibition games could be the perfect stage for certain players to stake their NBA claims.
We largely know what to expect from Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, Norman Powell, Robert Covington, Cody Zeller and to a lesser extent Larry Nance Jr., Tony Snell and Ben McLemore.
But the unknown output offered by Jusuf Nurkic, Anfernee Simons, and Nassir Little could swing the fortunes for this Blazers team come April, May, and June.