The Miami Heat are among four NBA teams, including the Boston Celtics, Sacramento Kings, and Golden State Warriors, expressing interest in acquiring 24-year-old forward Nassir Little, a 2019 first-round draft pick.
Little played 45 games, starting in two, with the Phoenix Suns during the 2023-24 season. He averaged 3.4 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 0.5 assists per game, shooting 46.0% from the field and 30.0% from three-point range.
Before joining the Suns, Little spent four seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, where he had his best year during the 2021-22 season. That season, he posted career-highs, averaging 9.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game, while shooting 46.0% from the floor and 33.1% from beyond the arc.
While several teams are in the hunt for Little, the Heat are in a different position compared to the others. The Celtics are coming off a dominant 2024 season, winning the NBA championship, while the Warriors are attempting to recover after missing the playoffs. Similarly, the Kings had a solid regular season with 46 wins but also failed to make the playoffs.
The Miami Heat, although already deep at the small forward position with players like Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Duncan Robinson, see Little as a valuable addition. He could provide critical depth and fill in effectively under head coach Erik Spoelstra, particularly if an injury sidelines one of their key players.
If successful in signing Little, the Heat will hope he becomes a key piece in their quest for a deeper playoff run after being eliminated in the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs.
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