The Cleveland Cavaliers have leaped out of the gate with a perfect 3-0 start to their 2024-25 season, highlighted by a dominant performance over the Washington Wizards. Despite this impressive opening stretch, the Cavs still have some roster gaps to address if they want to maintain their winning momentum—and one key area is their frontcourt depth.
Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale recently spotlighted a familiar face who could help shore up this need: Atlanta Hawks center Larry Nance Jr. Favale’s suggestion is simple—reuniting Cleveland with Nance could be exactly what the roster needs to boost versatility in the frontcourt.
“Cleveland could also use a combo big who can play alongside one of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen or independently of both,” wrote Favale. “Reuniting with Nance is just what the depth chart ordered.”
Favale’s proposal would send forward Georges Niang and a couple of second-round draft picks to Atlanta in exchange for Nance, who’s yet to play a game for the Hawks after arriving from New Orleans in an offseason trade. Nance is a well-rounded, defensive-minded big who’s versatile enough to space the floor, shooting 34.2% from three-point range in his career. He’s also got strong Cleveland ties, having played for the Cavs from 2017 to 2021, even helping the team reach the NBA Finals in 2018.
During the 2023-24 season with New Orleans, Nance averaged 5.7 points and five rebounds over 19.9 minutes per game, connecting on an efficient 57.3% of his shots. While his numbers don’t leap off the page, Nance’s real value comes from his defensive flexibility and ability to work seamlessly within different lineup combinations—exactly what Cleveland could use behind Mobley and Allen.
Nance’s best season in Cleveland came in 2019-20, when he put up 10.1 points and 7.3 boards per game, showcasing his potential as a reliable role player. With a reunion in Cleveland, he could fill a major depth need and offer the Cavaliers a familiar and dependable option as they push for sustained success in a competitive Eastern Conference.
