Cavs: 2 realistic expectations for Larry Nance Jr. for next season
By Dan Gilinsky
#1: Nance keeps showing he’s the Cavs’ best all-around big
I’m not suggesting that Nance will look to be the Cavs’ best big, period, but he’ll look to be Cleveland’s best all-around big.
His ever-expanding offensive game, ability to playmake/initiate offense for teammates such as KPJ, Sexton, Kevin Love himself and others will help the Cavaliers, and Nance’s catch-and-shoot/spot-up efficiency should continue to see an uptick. Plus, Nance is still set to be one of Cleveland’s best rollers and/or perhaps its’ best lob threat.
We’ve hit on how Nance’s much improved handle aided him as a driving threat last season, too, and his finishing abilities with better touch, and still with great body control/power, shouldn’t be discounted. He showed flashes as a post-up big, too, and had success in that way in 2019-20, which was another positive sign for his outlook in coming years.
Along with the offensive end, it’s clear that Nance is one of the Cavs’ best defenders.
And his fluidity/athleticism played into him being able to fill in at the 3 position at times post-All-Star break leading into the season’s stoppage for J.B. Bickerstaff in his initial time taking over the Cavs head coaching reigns. His activity in passing lanes/as a helper weighed into him having a robust 1.4 steals per-36 minutes in 2019-20 as well.
So to me, whether or not the Cavaliers end up drafting a big in the 2020 NBA Draft, such as Onyeka Okongwu or Obi Toppin, and/or in the case that Andre Drummond eventually picks up his $28.7 million player option for 2020-21, I still expect that Jr. is the Cavs’ best all-around big next season. Even with reports that Drummond is undecided regarding that option, it’s still hard to foresee him not exercising that, for the record.
Overall, with the growth he’s shown on the offensive end in his past two seasons with Cleveland, with Nance still being one of the Cavs’ best defenders, both in the on/off-ball sense, and with him being a really active rebounder/roller still, Nance will be Cleveland’s best all-around big next season.
The second realistic expectation I have for Nance next season for the Cavs has to do with the intangibles.