Cavaliers big man Larry Nance Jr. hasn’t suited up for the team since March 27, but he’s starting to feel better after having dealt with an undetermined illness that caused rapid weight loss and left him bedridden, sources tell Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com.
None of the tests that Nance was administered in an attempt to identify his illness have come back positive, including COVID-19 tests, writes Fedor. A source tells Cleveland.com that the 28-year-old lost nearly 20 pounds and had a hard time keeping food down while he battled the illness.
Although Nance is improving, he’ll miss Thursday’s game and may not play on Saturday or Sunday either, according to Fedor, who says the training staff wants him to regain some of his lost weight and build his stamina back up before he returns to game action.
Here’s more from around the Central:
- Following Saddiq Bey‘s 25-point showing on Tuesday in Denver, Pistons head coach Dwane Casey reiterated a point that he and GM Troy Weaver have made before, referring to the rookie as a long-term keeper. “He’s an NBA starter for us and part of our building blocks,” Casey said of the young forward (Twitter link via Rod Beard of The Detroit News). Detroit gave up Luke Kennard and several second-round picks to land Bey in the 2020 draft.
- In his early days with the Bulls, Nikola Vucevic is looking like the sidekick that Zach LaVine and the club have long needed, writes Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic.
- While he’s not particularly high on the team’s playoff chances this season, Michael Pina of SI.com makes the case for why the Bulls‘ future looks bright. Meanwhile, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago fields a number of questions on the Bulls’ future in his latest mailbag, suggesting that Coby White still looks like part of the long-term core, even if the club is likely to pursue a point guard in the offseason.
Bulls now have a P&R combo that is a real threat. If they can play consistent defense and keep Coby as a catch-and-shoot 6th man, they will start turning some heads. All they really need is a passing pg who can defend.
Exactly: they need a CP3/Rondo type (younger obviously)
After years of watching garpax make awful decisions and spin their wheels, this bulls team and their executives is a breath of fresh air, the amount of players the acquired at the trade deadline in a covid restricted season was goin to be tough, but I am bullish on their future, I know they have to max Zach but the starting true PG seems like the move this offseason and I think teams will be forced to notice them on the schedule next year
I wouldn’t mind them bringing Kris Dunn back… He may be a better fit in Donovan’s system and could provide good second unit defense and decision making – or allow Coby to be a second team scoring option to spell Lavine or play alongside when Vucevic rests
I still think the best offseason addition would be retaining Markannen and letting him be a perimeter scorer to compliment the Lavine/Vuc lead options. As a 3rd option – he would excel, rather than struggling as a 2nd scorer…
Bey was a solid draft. He’s a playmaker at the 3 and plays both ways. He was also more NBA ready than most. Been saying it all yr. Pistons had excellent draft
Hayes, Bey, Stewart, .Saben Lee all getting mins. All got a future. Three starters eventually.
Man I just wish we would’ve traded Zach or acquired Vuc in the offseason, also didn’t like Zach AS selection. If Bulls missed the playoffs again this yr AND he didnt make the AS game I think that would’ve fonally forced him to realize that the only way a team he plays on can win is if he plays defense. There is absolutely no reason that a player who plays as many minutes, touches the ball and takes as many shots as LaVine, should have the low plus/minus that he does. Hopefully Vuc will tell him, you don’t have to be DPOY, but don’t be a liability either. You’re still being paid while the ball is in the opposing teams possession, act like it.
Couldn’t disagree more – Lavine is an all star and deserves what he earned. Defense is a team effort – and yes he needs to get better, but moving him is akin to throwing the baby out with the bath water. They stole Vuc. No complaints on that deal