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?
Examining some Cavs-Nance trade hypotheticals
I could potentially foresee Cleveland and say, the Indiana Pacers doing a Nance trade, for instance. Indiana has been a rumored Collin Sexton suitor, among others, such as the Golden State Warriors and New York Knicks, but in the case with Nance, which we’ll focus on here, perhaps Indiana would entertain taking Nance in exchange for their #13 overall pick and a guard/wing shooter such as Justin Holiday?
The Pacers need playable big man depth, and Nance could fit with either of Domantas Sabonis or Myles Turner for stretches at the 4.
Perhaps I’m wrong in suggesting that Indy would be willing to part with their #13 pick in this case, but that, which could be a wing such as Moses Moody or Franz Wagner, or even a player I’m high on in Cameron Thomas there, could be a heck of an add, if so. Or a forward such as Kai Jones, Usman Garuba could be intriguing. But adding a wing shooter attached with it that’s a proven knockdown shooting veteran would be meaningful, such as Justin Holiday.
In terms of others that could theoretically be interested in Nance and would have appealing vet guards, the Chicago Bulls, Memphis Grizzlies and perhaps Orlando Magic come to mind as potentially being logical Nance suitors.
When it comes to the Bulls, a Nance-for-Tomas Satoransky swap would be sensible, considering the uncertainty with Lauri Markkanen/how Nance could fit well with Nikola Vucevic at the 4, and from the Cavs’ standpoint, even with Satoransky being expiring, he’d be a legitimate backup point guard option. That’s to echo KJG’s Amadou Sow’s sentiment involving him, too.
That’d be helpful from Satoransky, regardless of if Collin Sexton is moved or not, and I’d think it’d aid Garland from a durability standpoint.
With the Grizzlies, I suggest them, considering how Nance could mesh in a variety of lineups and help them defensively, and could play alongside the newly-acquired Steven Adams, and I even think Nance could occasionally play at the 3 with Adams and Jaren Jackson Jr., with Nance’s spot-up abilities/passing feel. That, to go with Nance’s defensive capabilities could be an intriguing dynamic in stretches for Memphis, and Nance would be a meaningful roller in spurts with Ja Morant.
And for Cleveland in this case, the likes of Tyus Jones, who is reportedly available, per HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto (and is another Sow Cavs trade target) could bring stability to Cleveland’s backup point guard position, and he could help a number of rotational shooters in stretches. For salary matching purposes, perhaps the likes of John Konchar could be thrown in as well, and at minimum, he could provide shooting in spurts in that sense.
Or as an alternative, while I wouldn’t necessarily anticipate he’d be available in this scenario, maybe the Cavs could snag Xavier Tillman with Jones, who could be a viable backup 4/5 for spurts? I have my doubts about that though, as Tillman came on later last season.
Moving along, maybe the Magic would have interest in Nance, considering that he’s under contract for two more seasons at a fairly reasonable rate ($10.7 million then $9.7 million), and he could still help their young players on both ends, and should be flipable for another asset near the 2022 deadline or 2023 deadline anyway?
Maybe a deal involving Nance and a future second-round pick for Terrence Ross, with Orlando entering a full rebuild and needing minutes for other younger guards, could be doable? I don’t think that’s completely far-fetched, as Ross has been mentioned in trade rumors, but still could be very valuable for Cleveland, as either a starter if Sexton is traded or as still a bench bucket-getter and movement shooter.
The Cavs would need to get a quality, proven veteran guard as part of a package for Nance
Of course, as an aside, maybe Prince and other assets/salary matching could be traded by Cleveland during the 2021 NBA Draft or before next season, and maybe as part of a package for the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Ricky Rubio, for example, conversely from Nance as a trade piece.
But the point I’m getting at is pretty clear. Given that he seems to have real value and Mobley could very well play a bunch at the 4 and Kevin Love could still be around, at least for some of next season, and Dean Wade was solid last year, I couldn’t blame Cleveland if they were to trade Nance.
However, a meaningful veteran contributor guard, such as the targets suggested, would have to be the return or part of a potential return; not just a young pick.
With what Nance provides for the Cavs, when he’s healthy, which is a question mark admittedly, he can make things happen in a number of ways, and not to mention, he’s such a great teammate/community guy.
Perhaps Nance doesn’t end up being moved anyhow, but if he does get dealt, Cleveland better be getting a solid veteran backup point guard or proven shot creator/maker as part of a return.