The Lakers have made a significant move by finalizing a multimillion-dollar deal to add top prospect Jerami Grant to their roster.
Larry Nance Jr., currently with the Hawks, is a player the Lakers know well. Drafted by the Lakers in the first round of the 2015 NBA draft, Nance began his career in L.A. as a versatile 6-foot-8 forward. Initially, he spent 14% of his rookie minutes at small forward, but the modern game has since evolved, and so has Nance’s role.
In the 2023-24 season, Nance thrived as a high-energy, switchable center, playing 99% of his minutes in that position. The previous season, he played 81% of his minutes at center for the Pelicans. However, Nance was traded from New Orleans to Atlanta in a summer deal involving Dejounte Murray. Now, he finds himself on a Hawks team already featuring Onyeka Okongwu, who is ready for a larger role, and Clint Capela, who has been on the trade market for over a year.
With Capela expected to be traded, Nance has become a hot commodity. Veteran NBA reporter Marc Stein noted, “The Atlanta big man drawing the most external interest is the newly acquired Nance. Word is Nance, who came to the Hawks in the recent Dejounte Murray trade, is being chased by multiple teams in need of proven size.”
