Nance is always working on his game. Last year in the off-season he added a three-point shot. Reportedly he took 20,000 shots. That's dedication. This off-season he's working on his agility and footwork in anticipation of playing more at the 3 in the "supersized" lineup that was so successful last season in brief trial runs.
In five March games, with head coach J.B. Bickerstaff utilizing Nance as a small forward at various points, he was averaging 15.6 points on 55.4% shooting and 45% from 3-point range to go with 7.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists. - Chris Fedor
The Nance-Love-Drummond combination played eight games, averaging almost eight minutes on the floor. They averaged 20.5 points and 8.5 rebounds, along with a +/- of 6.3. - Kelsey Russo
Let me highlight that number. A +6.3 points in eight minutes. Give that grouping 32 minutes a game and that's a +25.
I said to our staff, “In the future, we’ve got to try and maximize as many minutes as we can for Larry Nance.” He does so many intangible things for the team. He gets 50/50 rebounds, he makes the next pass... When he was injured that hurt us a lot. And when he’s played a lot of minutes, we’ve been pretty good usually. - John Beilein
Just (a) gritty, tough winner. That’s all you can see, even when the ball wasn’t going in. When he isn’t doing well on offense, he will take it out on his defender and come out and play better (defense). Some people won’t do that. If the offense isn’t clicking, they’re still thinking about it at the other end. Larry [Nance Jr] is just such a key part of this team, of this culture, of our future. - Beilein, 12/7/19
Beilein isn't around anymore but I think management sees Nance the same way he did. I see why the Cavaliers extended Nance's contract for three years at $41 million and why the Celtics are trying to get him. Any team in the league would want this guy. The poster who said Nance doesn't care about how the team does could not be more wrong. It's exactly the opposite - he's all about the team. If anything he passes too much when he should be shooting more. Just an extremely unselfish and hard working player who gets better every year. He's a core building block due to his talent, his leadership, his unselfishness, his willingness to pass and play defense, and his versatility to play three different positions.
Trading Nance would be something of a betrayal to him and to the fans. I can't see them seriously considering it unless A) they're in love with Wiseman, and B) the trade would get them Wiseman and the #14 pick.
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