The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Nance Jr. excited with new deal, season
There was no taking the smile off Larry Nance Jr.’s face as he met with reporters Oct. 16.
He had just finished a vigorous practice at Cleveland Clinic Courts in advance of the regular-season opener in Toronto on Oct. 17.
Nance getting through practice was noteworthy because the fifth-year center-forward had been sidelined since spraining his ankle in practice on Oct. 11.
Barring an adverse reaction, Nance will be available to play against the Raptors in the 2018-19 season opener.
“It’s feeling great,” Nance said. “I’ve made a ton of progress. It’s still black and blue, but it feels great. We’ll see what tomorrow brings.”
There also was the matter of Cavs and Nance agreeing on the terms of a fouryear, $44.8 million contact extension Oct. 15.
That deal will keep the 25-year-old Akron native and son of former Cavs great Larry Nance in a Cleveland uniform through the end of the 2022-23 season.
“What a year. What a summer. Gosh, it’s been awesome,” Nance said when asked to summarize his mood.
The 6-foot-9, 230-pound Nance, a graduate of Revere High School, grew up in the suburbs of Akron. After a solid collegiate career at the University of Wyoming, he was taken by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 27th overall pick in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft.
He came back home Feb. 8 when he and Lakers teammate Jordan Clarkson were traded to the Cavs.
That move was part of a mid-season roster re-make as the Cavaliers positioned themselves for a fourth straight run to the NBA Finals behind all-star LeBron James.
Nance played well after joining the Cavs. He averaged 8.9 points and 7.0 rebounds in 21 regular-season games.
With the loss of James to the Lakers in free agency, the Cavs front office identified Nance as a player they wanted to make part of a core that includes Kevin Love and rookie point guard Collin Sexton.
Although his focus in recent weeks was on preparing for the 2018-19 season, Nance admitted he was on pins and needles as his agent, Mark Bartelstein, and Cavs general manager Koby Altman hammered out details of the contract extension.
“Now, I can finally take a nap and eat some decent food,” Nance said. “The past couple of nights, I’ve been up until 2:30 tossing and turning. Needless to say, I got some good sleep last night.”
Nance said he was at home with his wife, Halley, father and mother, Jaynee Nance, when he got the news the deal was done.
“It would have been pretty cool doing that anywhere, but come on, I keep saying over and over I am thrilled to be home,” Nance said.
“My mom was throughthe-roof ecstatic. I don’t know who was happier, her or me. It was a great day all around.”