The Los Angeles Lakers drafted Larry Nance Jr. with the 27th overall pick in 2015, and the veteran may be nearing the end of his career. He averaged 6.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.5 steals in 17.5 minutes per game over four preseason contests. Those numbers don't sound bad, but Nance Jr. shot just 32.0 percent from the field with the Cavaliers being outscored by 36 points in his 70 minutes on the floor.
The 6’8 big man struggled to earn a consistent role last season. He played 19.3 minutes per game, which was the lowest mark of his ten-year NBA career. Nance Jr. appeared in just 24 contests. Lakers fans know the impact he can make on both ends of the floor when given a consistent role, but it just wasn’t there in Atlanta.
Nance Jr. returned to Cleveland for his second stint with the Cavs in free agency. His father is a franchise legend. Nance Jr. also played the three-highest minutes per game averages of his career during his three full seasons in The Land. It made sense to return, but it doesn’t look like it will end well.
Larry Nance Jr. is looking like a bust on the Cavaliers
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The 32-year-old can guard multiple positions, rebound, space the floor, and catch lobs. His versatility made him the perfect fit for any contender. It was shocking to see him stuck in Atlanta and not seeing the floor last season, but fans are quickly finding out why.
It appears that Nance Jr. is declining and may never recover. Fans were [not happy to see him traded](https://lakeshowlife.com/2018/08/31/los-angeles-lakers-will-regret-trading-larry-nance-jr/) in 2018 as he was just coming into his own on the Lakers. The front office found a deal that was too good to pass up, and Nance Jr. has bounced around to four different teams. The pressure is on this season to prove he still deserves a roster spot.
So far, it has been a struggle. Nance Jr. is coming off the bench and trying to acclimate to his new teammates. Still, it is unacceptable for a big man to shoot 32 percent from the field. This is a small sample size, but not when added to an entire season of the 6’8 forward not being on the floor. It appears Father Time may just be catching up to the veteran.
The Los Angeles Lakers [want to contend for a championship](https://lakeshowlife.com/luka-doncic-must-accept-new-role-make-lakers-title-contender) and know the Cavaliers are one of the best teams in the East. Fans are rooting for Larry Nance Jr. to succeed. It is hard not to fall in love with his game, and fans would love nothing more than to see him facing off against the purple and gold in the NBA Finals. Nance Jr. is always happy to play his role, but that has been a struggle in the preseason.
Hopefully, he bounces back. Fans shouldn’t hold their breath, especially after last year. The 32-year-old may surprise us, but it is far from certain. The most likely outcome is this goes down as a bust, and the parties go their separate ways after the season.