Akron, Ohio native Larry Nance Jr. is reuniting with the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 2025-2026 season.
Nance played 182 games in four seasons with the Cavs from 2018 to 2021. Cleveland acquired Nance and Jordan Clarkson in a deal involving Isaiah Thomas, who was struggling, to help reconfigure for the 2018 playoff run. This is where Nance got his first taste of playoff basketball.
Now, he gets the opportunity to compete for an NBA title again, this time as a seasoned veteran.
OFFENSIVE VERSATILITY
Nance has evolved his game significantly since his original season with the wine and gold. Let’s begin with his shooting.
In the last three seasons, he has shot at least 41% on corner threes. This element of his game will benefit Cleveland by providing additional lineups that can play with five-out spacing. Cleveland hasn’t seen a backup big man close to this since Kevin Love’s 2021-2022 season.
While Nance only played 24 games in the last league year, he put together two performances where he shot 5/6 from three-point range.
As a roll-man, Nance was in the 53rd percentile. As a bench player, this is a fine number that could increase as he joins an elite pick-and-roll offense. He has the physicality, IQ and athleticism to complete openings as a play-finisher.
In this play from the 2023-2024 season, we see an example of how Nance can be effective in the Cavs offense. Imagine CJ McCollum as Donovan Mitchell and Trey Murphy as Max Strus or De’Andre Hunter. Nance’s defender has the difficult task of managing the space around the basket because of the breakdown on the perimeter and Larry’s play-finishing abilities. His skillset fits into the Cavaliers ethos seamlessly.
Nance’s playmaking capabilities will help the Cavs offense continue their flow and even add an extra element. Since the 2018-2019 season, Nance has posted an assist percentage of 11.3% or higher. He’s a willing passer who doesn’t force many shots.
Since Nance possesses a good handle for his position, he’s able to take advantage of opposing teams’ help defense. After finding himself with a mismatch, he quickly makes a move and uses his eyes to fool the helper so that he can hit Hunter in the corner.
DEFENSIVE IMPACT
In his previous three seasons, Nance has played the majority of his minutes at the center position. Listed at 6-foot-8, he may be undersized, but at 245 pounds with his athleticism, he makes up for the potential height disadvantage. As a power forward, he has the ideal size to help with the OG Anunobys and Paolo Bancheros of the Eastern Conference if need be.
Naturally, at 32 years old, Nance is not as quick as he was during his mid-20s. This could be something to track with some of Cleveland’s switch-defense ideas. As a paint protector, he is good at staying vertical and forcing tougher shots. In his 10-year career, Nance only fouls 2.1 times per game.
In terms of rebounding, he has been solid but not extraordinary across his career. He has career marks of 14.7 TRB%, 20.9 DRB%, and 8.7 ORB%. When playing with another big, rebounding shouldn’t be an issue.
All things considered, Nance may be best paired with one of Evan Mobley or Jarrett Allen. Head Coach Kenny Atkinson will need to determine his most effective spot. As it stands, the only other current Cavalier who has logged any meaningful center minutes is Dean Wade.
Generally, his best defensive scheme for the Cavs may be drop coverage. He will be asked to switch, so lineups involving Lonzo Ball, Mitchell, Wade and Hunter may be some of the most effective. If he can hold up on islands with opposing guards, the Cavs bench defense could become a strength.
Larry Nance Jr.’s LASTING IMPRESSION
In the Cavs’ search for a backup big man not named Tristan Thompson, they found one of the most versatile options on the market. His offensive skills allow Kenny Atkinson to chef up with the offense in a way that hasn’t been possible since Kevin Love left. Defensively, Nance will help and give the team a mobile big option off the bench.
This summer, Koby Altman has focused on acquiring more two-way players who fit the team’s offensive ideology, while at the same time, providing Atkinson with more playmaking opportunities. These additions will look to build upon the Cavs’ current foundation to help overcome the obstacles they faced in the 2025 playoffs.
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