32-Year-Old Forward Agrees to Terms with the Cavaliers
As a result of the Dejounte Murray trade, New Orleans Pelicans forward Larry Nance Jr., along with Cody Zeller, Dyson Daniels, and E.J. Liddell, were sent to the Atlanta Hawks. This past season, Nance Jr. played just 24 games with Atlanta, and on March 26th, it was announced was ruled out for the remainder of the season with a medial femoral condyle fracture. After this unhealthy season for the 32-year-old forward, he now has a lot of decisions to make as he becomes an unrestricted free agent. It was reported today that Nance Jr. signed a one-year deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
During the 2015 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers selected Nance Jr. with the 27th overall pick. He played alongside the late, great Kobe Bryant and was a Laker for two and a half seasons before Nance Jr. and Jordan Clarkson were dealt to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye, and a 2018 first-round pick. The 32-year-old forward spent his playing time with the Cavs from 2018-2021. He would then be traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in a three-team deal that involved the Chicago Bulls. Nance Jr. played a year in Portland before once again being shipped off, this time to the New Orleans Pelicans in a package that surrounded Blazers CJ McCollum. After two and a half seasons in New Orleans, the 32-year-old was traded once again, now to the Hawks in a deal that surrounded Hawks’ Dejounte Murray.
Nance Jr. played 24 games and had three starts with the Hawks this past season. In 19 minutes a game, he averaged nine points, four rebounds, two assists, and a steal. On December 19th, the 32-year-old veteran forward put up 21 points along with 13 rebounds, two assists, a steal, and a block during a 133-126 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. Now, with the Cavaliers, Nance Jr. hopes to make a massive impact after an unsuccessful outing with the Hawks. His impact as a role player will be huge for Cleveland, and hopefully, Nance Jr. can clinch his fourth playoff appearance during his career.
