One couldn’t blame Cavs for trading Larry Nance Jr. for meaningful vet guard

I’ll be the first to say that I’ve been pleased with what Larry Nance Jr. has given the Cleveland Cavaliers when he’s been in there in recent seasons. He showed plenty of growth in an expanded role in the 2018-19 season, his first full season with Cleveland following a trade from the Los Angeles Lakers, and he had a very productive 2019-20 campaign.

In the latter, Nance had 10.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.0 steals per outing, and he demonstrated further progression as a catch-and-shoot player, as he knocked in 35.2 percent of his 2.8 three-point attempts per game. Leading into the then-suspended season/ultimately end of 2019-20 for Cleveland (because of COVID-19), he was playing particularly well, too.

In relation to the last season though, it was unfortunately an injury-riddled campaign for Nance, who was active in a career-low 35 games. A combination of injuries in a right wrist sprain, then a fourth left metacarpal fracture, then an awful bout of illness and then a fractured right thumb were the culprits, for context.

Nance did do pretty well earlier on in the season before he was banged up and had 9.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists per contest on the season, mostly filling in as the starting 4 with Kevin Love having dealt with a right calf injury. Jr. also was among league leaders in steals per game and deflections per contest last season, albeit the lack of games didn’t lead to him being in that leaders category, really.

Nonetheless, even though I’d be more than fine with Nance sticking around and wouldn’t be surprised if did and has a significant bench and/or some as starter-type role next season/perhaps the season following, I couldn’t blame Cleveland if they traded him.

That could seemingly happen during the 2021 NBA Draft, set to commence on Thursday night, as Nance has been a player previously mentioned in trade rumors, particularly with how he’s shown continued progress when healthy offensively, and with how he can contribute to winning overall.

Zach Harper of The Athletic (subscription required) reported this week how players like Nance and Cedi Osman, with how the Cavs want to clear up money for next season/with Jarrett Allen’s contract extension outlook, could be dealt with Cleveland potentially willing to take on more money for this season. Harper’s report hit on how Taurean Prince (expiring) could perhaps be attached in a deal, too.

With that report in mind/the injury concerns with Nance, and players such as Evan Mobley, who could very well be Cleveland’s #3 pick, too, I could foresee that happening with Nance either during the draft or maybe before next season.

One couldn’t blame the Cavs for doing that, either, but if a meaningful veteran guard is part of a package, clearly.

So how about some potential packages?