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The Portland Trail Blazers are holding Nassir Little out of this week’s Las Vegas Summer League to focus on the regular season, according to The Athletic’s Jason Quick. The report notes that after practising this week, the team felt there was no need for the third-year wing to play as he works to carve out a larger role in Portland’s rotation.
Blazers’ forward Nassir Little will not participate in Las Vegas Summer League. He practiced with team this week, and staff decided there was no need to play him in Vegas. He is hoping to follow trend of 3rd year Blazers who break into rotation (McCollum, Crabbe, Layman, Trent)
— Jason Quick (@jwquick) August 8, 2021
Other Blazers to have established larger roles in their third year, include CJ McCollum, Allen Crabbe, Gary Trent Jr. and Jake Layman.
The 6’5 Little has dealt with a series of injuries since his selection at pick 25 in the 2019 draft, playing in only 48 games in each of his first two season. He’s averaged 4.1 points and 2.5 rebounds, however enjoyed a breakout performance against the Milwaukee Bucks on February 1, shooting five of seven from three, registering 30 points.
The Blazers open their Summer League campaign tomorrow against the Charlotte Hornets.