Cavs: 3 teams that should have traded for Larry Nance Jr.

Larry Nance Jr. joined the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2018, traded from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Cavs in LeBron James‘ final season in Ohio. The move gave Cleveland a versatile forward in Nance, but also cleared the cap space the Lakers needed to sign James the following summer.

Whatever the motives that landed him there, Nance embraced being a Cavalier, becoming a voice of leadership as the team changed from contending to rebuilding around him. He honed his defensive game, improved his passing and may have been the team’s best player in 2020-21.

That ended Friday as the Cavs sent him out in a three-team trade, acquiring Lauri Markkanen and sending Nance to the Portland Trail Blazers. The Chicago Bulls performed the sign and trade of Markkanen, and in return received a lottery-protected first-round pick from the Blazers along with Derrick Jones Jr., and a protected future second from the Cavaliers.

The Cavs traded Larry Nance Jr. to Portland. What other teams should have beat the price and traded for him?

Nance being available for trade was not a surprise, but the value he returned was. Jones Jr. was thought to have negative value on his $9.72 million deal for next season, and the Blazers had only to attach a lottery-protected first-round pick to acquire Nance. They clearly didn’t see Nance as a premium asset despite his low salary and positive skillset.

Also clear is that the Chicago Bulls valued Nance as little or less than the Trail Blazers. If Chicago had wanted Nance they almost certainly could have just traded for him in return for Markkanen, rather than the pick package alongside Jones Jr.

Nance can defend multiple positions, is a plus-passer and great locker room guy. He will make just $10.69 million next season and even less next year. He should have had a range of suitors on contending teams. Which squads should have trumped the Blazers’ offer and added Nance? We’ll start in the obvious spot.