Larry Nance Jr. wasn’t surprised that the Cavaliers agreed to trade him in the unofficial three-team deal that will bring Lauri Markkanen to Cleveland, according to Chris Fedor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Nance was concerned about his role and playing time with the addition of lottery pick Evan Mobley. Cleveland’s front office had discussed the possibility of moving him to a contender where he might have a bigger role.
He’s happy that he’s going to the Trail Blazers, where he’ll play with Damian Lillard and close friend CJ McCollum. If the Blazers eventually go into rebuild mode, Nance can leave as an unrestricted free agent during the summer of 2o23, Fedor adds.
We have more from the Central Division:
- In the same story, Fedor writes that the Cavs tried hard to trade for a wing shooter, dangling Nance, their 2022 first-round pick and, in some instances, a package of second-rounders. The Cavs couldn’t find the right deal and eventually turned their attention to a stretch four in Markkanen, who they hope can provide an offensive jolt.
- The Cavaliers are denying they’re engaged in buyout talks with Kevin Love, according to Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. A source told Pluto that progress was being made toward a buyout, which makes sense for both parties, the writer notes.
- The Bulls received $1.1MM from the Rockets in the Daniel Theis sign-and-trade, Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report tweets. The deal also generated a $5MM traded player exception.
- The Bucks received $1MM from the Grizzlies in the Grayson Allen deal, Pincus adds in another tweet. Memphis acquired Sam Merrill and two second-round picks.
Nance has never been a star. But, he’s been as good as a player can be without getting a lot of recognition. At his best he produced .200+ Win Shares per 48 minutes. Kobe Bryant produced .170 WS/48 for his career.
That’s a little misleading as Kobe’s career lasted forever and he loses some WS because he was forced or chose to emphasize production over efficiency while Nance was used in a protected well defined role.
But it illustrates how unsung he was in his prime.
Good post. Yes Nance is so athletic and can jump through the roof. Sometimes those guys, as they suffer little injuries to their legs Etc, lose that bounce and thus have to create a real game of positioning and moves and stuff like that.
Hopefully what he brings will benefit Portland in a big way. Hoping he stays on the court and I think he will.
Nance
Good fit, good price
Lakers need more 28 years old players, not 37.
Love agent wants full amount $60.2 million buyout
Love doesn’t want to lose any money.
Love is not Walker
Trade is only option if Cavs want $20 million buy out
Trade
Look at that jumper. Why would anyone wanna trade a guy with a jimbo as silky as that
Cavs have only 2 options. Either buy out Love’s contract or eat all of the money by playing him and taking away minutes from young players. Pretending they are not going to buy him out does them no good.
@arc89
what good is done by acknowledging to the world there going to buy him out? none. so they should keep their mouths shut and do whatever it is they plan to do. it’s not their job to confirm speculative reports.
Rockets had to pay a million bucks to sign Thies to that huge deal?)))
Nance is a solid talent. You can’t measure that by stats on Cavs. Cavs have sucked his whole time there. You have to go with eye test, talent vision. Nance is 28 and is a real 4. Who is athletic enough to cover 3s. He’s a good rebounder and defender. Who can get you points too. He helps Blazers as a spot starter and solid rotation guy. On a good team he is more valuable IMO. This trade should work out for all teams.
Frankly I always thought keeping Love is a good idea. He can help Markkanen and ease him in. Also help lessen load on him and Mobley. He’s got a ring and has played with best. Mobley and Markkanen can pick up a lot from him. So I don’t see the rush to cut ties with him. Love is healthy and can play. Playing solid around good young bigs. Will help his trade value too. If not he can be bought out by TD. Be a lot cheaper then for Cavs.
@Knicks
I don’t know why you keep saying this. Love is NOT healthy….at all. He’s still effected by a calf injury that caused him to miss 47 games last year. He’s still suffering the effects of it which is why he ultimately decided to remove himself from the Olympic team because he just wasn’t in any condition to simply practice. He asked to be on the Olympic team to showcase that he was over the injury and ready to play to increase trade possibilities. 1 week into it, he backed out and Jerry Colangelo threw him under the bus but saying publicly he was mad because Love begged to be on the team and swore he was physically capable. I love the guy but his body may or may not be able to play 25 minutes a game.
Effects dude really. He missed the Olympics cause he was out of SHAPE. The calf injury is not a serious injury unless you tear it. What is it you need to prove. Love HAS NEVER HAD A SERIOUS INJURY. You can research it.’I’ve posted it for you. Calf injury is not a serious injury. Kept him from getting in game shape. Do you work with Love. I’m sure Cavs don’t mind him sitting to see other players. It’s on him not being in shape, yes. But it’s still no serious injury. Just remember me when he Starts to ball out this yr.
@Knicker
OMG you are either dense or a supreme egomaniacal person. He missed 47 games this past year and couldn’t perform in the Olympics because of the calf injury. In 2018-19 he missed over 50 games with an injured foot. Way back in Minnesota he missed months with a back problem that would flare up here and they’re during his time in Cleveland. I really don’t understand what you’re missing. He’s missed 116 of 219 games in the last 3 seasons. That’s called injury prone!!
Blazers are desperate to get better and find help for Dame who’s obviously frustrated.
What do they do, give up Jones Jr and a first round pick for Larry Nance.
Seems to me like a slight over pay. Nance is nice and all, solid team player but you gave up a first round pick.
I would’ve much rather seen them make a bigger bolder move. CJ McCollum and 2 first round picks or Brandon Ingram. Something like that. Ingram could be a difference maker and if not he’s atleast a star to build around after Dame.
First round picks ain’t that important, CJ & 2 firsts ain’t nowhere near getting you Ingram, you need to add a lot more than that.