Cavs: Larry Nance Jr.’s shot will take time upon return, but he’ll help in other ways

Larry Nance Jr. is reportedly expected to return for the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday at the New Orleans Pelicans.

Nance has been sidelined for over a month time span thus far because of a fractured fourth metacarpal on his left hand, but looks on track to make his way back soon here for the Cavs’ second half.

Nance has done a nice job this season when he’s been healthy, which has been in primarily a starting 4 role, with Kevin Love having been sidelined due to a high-grade right calf strain/aggravation since Dec. 27. Love himself could be back fairly soon it seems, but we’ll have to see.

In Nance’s case, he’s again done solid work this season when he’s been in there, and has had 9.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.

He’s done pretty well, typically, on-ball defensively, too, and while he wouldn’t realistically qualify as a near-leader because of the games missed, he has also been tied for second in steals per game (1.9) in the league. Plus, not including the games played element, he’s tied for first in the league in deflections per game (3.9), per NBA.com’s player hustle data.

And after a tough start initially, Nance rebounded, and on the season in 19 games active, has hit a career-best 38.1 percent of his three-point attempts. That’s been on a career-high 3.3 deep attempts per outing (given the larger minutes-share).

In Nance’s return, though, Cavs fans need to be patient when it comes to the shooting for a bit for Jr.

Nance’s shot will take some time to return to form, but he’ll still help the Cavs in a number of other ways when he’s back soon.

For a good stretch there before Nance had suffered a right wrist sprain, he had really been in a nice groove as a catch-and-shoot threat. I would still expect him to take some time, perhaps three-to-four games to get himself back in-rhythm and trusting himself to let shots fly from the perimeter, though.

Granted, Nance, as Cleveland Cavaliers fans are well-aware of, should still aid the Wine and Gold in other areas when he’s back. Nance is a productive rebounder on both ends, is one of Cleveland’s best defenders, and should do solid work on-ball against 3’s and 4’s, depending on lineup contruction/matchups.

He’s shown that he does an admirable job in switching out on to guards, even, in pick-and-roll situations, provided Cleveland communicates through off-ball to aid guards.

But Nance’s feel for cutting off driving lanes, and contesting under-control, too, has made an impact on-ball for the Cavs, and as we previously hit on, he’s one of Cleveland’s best team defenders, and honestly, their best one.

More from King James Gospel

• 3 possible starting lineups for Cleveland Cavaliers in 2023-24
• The Cavaliers may have snagged a hidden gem in Craig Porter Jr.
• 4 players the Cavaliers should pursue in 2024 free agency
• 6 players Cavaliers might replace Jarrett Allen with by the trade deadline
• This stat is one to keep an eye on for Cavaliers’ Max Strus in years ahead

Nance’s instincts off-ball defensively often lead to his steals and/or deflections operating on both the weak and strong side on passes, and from there, he’s a more than capable grab-and-go threat in transition, and after defensive rebounds, too.

Nance makes sound decisions in transition/secondary transition, whether it results in his own finishes inside or dishes to the likes of a cutting Collin Sexton, Isaac Okoro or others.

In addition, in settled situations offensively, Nance has established himself as one of the Cavs’ best passers, and while he’s a highly effective cutter himself, his feel for hitting cutters on passes will be crucial for Cleveland when he’s back, too.

Jr.’s timing and vision for hitting spray-outs should be key for getting shooters such as Darius Garland, Sexton, Kevin Love, when he’s back, to go with Dylan Windler as well, quality looks, for instance.

Plus, with Nance’s much-improved handle, and with his quickness/finishing touch but also body control/above-the-rim abilities, I’d imagine he could help Cleveland as a driver some, which could provide some of a lift in games. That’s even with how I’d expect the shot to take some time for him to be fully back, if you will, from the perimeter, for example.

Of course, in the finishing sense, his rolling presence coming off of handoffs, similarly to Jarrett Allen, should aid the Cavs in terms of vertical spacing as well.

Lastly, though Nance reportedly has a number of interested trade suitors, the Cleveland Cavaliers do not have any interest in dealing him it seems, and I wouldn’t expect them to.

And it’s clear that trading the versatile Nance wouldn’t aid the Wine and Gold, considering he’s still an ascending player, even at 28, and also factoring in the difference he’s made in the community.

So again, while his shot will feasibly take three-to-four games to be fully back off-the-catch, I’d imagine, Nance will help Cleveland in other ways upon his return. I’m pumped to see Jr. back for the Wine and Gold, hopefully Friday.