June 29, 2018

Larry Nance Jr
PF/C - 6’9, 230lbs - 25 years old - 3 years of experience

Being moved to the centre spot with Cleveland was a mixed bag for Nance.

It is not something he has done much before, yet in theory it is something that suits his skill set. At that position, he can outrun more opponents, get to the rim as a roll man quite often, keep hammering the glass, and have more opportunities to play help defence around the basket. But while in theory it should also make him more regularly come out and defend opposing pick-and-rolls, something his mobility level suggests he should be good at, he wasn’t. Not yet.

The other problem is one of fit. Cleveland pretty much always play four or five out, which when healthy is limiting to Nance’s minutes. He has never been a floor-stretcher in his career and it would be a process to start now, so he has to share minutes with Tristan Thompson, limiting his role. This will continue for as long as Thompson is there; Nance arguably outplayed Thompson at times, but the veteran and his consistency seem to have the edge.

That said, Nance brings the Cavaliers a frontcourt player who will run the ball, as well as lead the break at times, and a lob threat they do not otherwise have. He adds some dynamicism to an older, slower team. He is an asset, even an undersized one, and thus he needs to play more. If this requires moving Thompson, I’m on board.

(Oh, and, he should have won the Dunk Contest. Best dunker in it. You can’t just copy Vince in the final and have that be enough, Donovan.)

Player Plan: One year of rookie scale salary remaining. Extension eligible, and he is a key player to keep around, one of the rare ones who fits both versions of the Cavaliers’ future. Be aware though that an extension will affect his tradability, which is the priority. Protect the asset you traded a first-rounder for (basically), yet sort out what trades need to happen first.

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June 29, 2017

Larry Nance Jr
SF/PF, 6’9, 230lbs, 24 years old, 2 years of experience

Nance is already a good role player. He is athletic, knows what to do with it, and knows what not to force with it. He cuts and runs to the basket, tries to dunk everything, often manages it, goes to the glass, and defends the power forward spot well with his size and speed combination, able to switch onto certain threes and fives at times. The mid-range jump shot has also improved (43.5% from 16-24 feet this season), and the three-point shot is likely to follow. Nance rotates well, plays hard, and should not go anywhere any time soon. The core the team wants will need players like this around it.

Player Plan: Two years of rookie scale salary remaining. Keep and establish extension credentials next year - should he enter restricted free agency instead, his cap hold will be comparatively small.

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