Fansided

Re-drafting the 2015 NBA Draft

By John Buhler

Nov 23, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat forward Justise Winslow (20) dribbles the ball against the New York Knicks during the second half at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 95-78. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 23, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat forward Justise Winslow (20) dribbles the ball against the New York Knicks during the second half at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 95-78. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 17, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Larry Nance Jr. (7) controls the ball during the third quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Valley View Casino Center. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Larry Nance Jr. (7) controls the ball during the third quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Valley View Casino Center. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

. Power Forward. Wyoming Cowboys. Larry Nance, Jr.. 24. player. 156

In all honesty, the Lakers had a great 2015 NBA Draft in getting both D’Angelo Russell and Larry Nance, Jr. in the first round. While the Lakers would have liked to have drafted Nance again in this re-draft, even with Porzingis playing the same position, they can’t because Nance will now play for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Nance’s father, Larry Nance, Sr., had a great 13-year NBA career with both Cleveland and in Phoenix. What made Nance look so promising with the 2015-16 Lakers was that he could anchor a defense, as well as his great lateral quickness in the front court, being able to play both power forward and center effectively.

Quick, rangy, athletic big men are something the Cavaliers couldn’t get enough of. They had to part ways with the ever popular Anderson Varejao and Timofey Mozgov rarely plays now. However with Nance, the Cavaliers would have found an interesting grouping with he and Tristan Thompson down low to give the opposition of doing anything on the glass.

Cleveland is at its best when the Cavaliers are dictating the pace of the game through great rebounding and strong outside shooting. This year’s Cavaliers team is already championship caliber, but could have used a higher upside big man like Nance instead of Varejao or Mozgov.

While they did dump Varejao to Portland to clear cap space to acquire Channing Frye from the Orlando Magic, had the Cavaliers had Nance, imagine what they could have gotten in return for the younger, underutilized Mozgov?

Next: 25. Memphis Grizzlies

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