Cleveland Cavaliers: Ranking the 3 most valuable trade chips

Ranking the 3 most valuable trade chips: 2. Larry Nance Jr.

There was a point in his career when Larry Nance Jr. was a late first-round flier, an athletic finisher who struggled on defense and couldn’t shoot from outside. Since being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, where his father starred for years, Nance Jr. has completely reinvented himself as a high-level defender with a respectable 3-point shot (36 percent last season), while improving as a passer as well.

That kind of player is incredibly valuable, and the Cavaliers would be happy to keep him on the team as the best player at a loaded power forward position. Still only 28 and in the midst of his prime, Nance can bridge the gap for the young core being assembled.

Yet the best part of having Nance on the team is why he is likely highly coveted around the league. He is under contract for two more seasons on descending salary, owed just $10.69 million in 2021-22, and only $9.67 million the following season in 2022-23. That’s a bargain for a player this good, and for any playoff team looking to add a versatile forward who can slide to the 5 and bring defense and passing it’s a blazing “trade for me” sign over his head.

Nance could be the centerpiece of his own deal, with a first round pick and another small asset heading to the Cavaliers. He could also be part of a larger framework, where the Cavaliers use his value and low salary in a larger deal to bring back a premium asset. Could Nance be part of a deal for Ben Simmons? For CJ McCollum? He fits on any team in almost any trade construction.

The Cavaliers should not be looking to move Nance at anything less than full value. They also should recognize where they are in their timeline as a franchise, and make use of the opportunity to trade Nance at the peak of his value to add assets to this team’s future.