On Thursday afternoon, the Indiana Pacers signed energy big Larry Nance Jr. to a one-year, $4 million standard contract (that will only count for $ 2.4 million against the cap). He gives the franchise some needed depth as Nance Jr. joins a bench unit that features TJ McConnell, Obi Toppin, and a whole lot of question marks.
Nance is clearly no longer the player he was, as evidenced by his bouncing around among the Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks, and New Orleans Pelicans over the past few years, never spending more than two seasons in any one place.
However, the combined signings of him and Kelly Oubre clearly hint that the Pacers are valuing two things quite heavily: experience and energy.
Larry Nance Jr. gives the Pacers needed depth
Indiana spent last year devoid of talent not simply because of the catastrophic injury to Tyrese Haliburton, but because the entire roster got hurt and the Pacers had not found suitable bench players.
This did not come without positives, like a draft pick valuable enough to trade for Ivica Zubac or the space to see Jalen Slawson, the current star of the summer league team, thrive. However, it is safe to say that if anything comes close to last year's injury-laden season, the Pacers will have to throw in the towel on this era.
Still, even if Nance Jr. or Oubre, for that matter, are unable to be saviors in times of need, they both provide the team with needed depth.
It is also worth considering that Nance's second Cavs tenure last year came after a major leg injury that may have sapped the mobility that made him a useful player to begin with.
At the very, very least, Nance will provide some consistency behind Toppin, as the two share a playstyle as athletic fours with the ability to play small ball five in a pinch. Despite everything, Nance may just be a better defender as well.
Some will fairly say that Nance is cooked, that a forward who averaged 3.7 points and was a DNP-CD 26 times probably shouldn't be playing at all, and I think that's fair. It's hard to disagree with that. His stint with Cleveland was awful.
However, the Pacers and Haliburton in particular have a way of getting the most out of this kind of archetype. From Toppin to Jay Huff, these undersized bigs that can shoot and block shots are clearly a priority for Indiana.
Maybe that spells good things for Rienk Mast, the Dutch center who is quietly earning a two-way deal or more in Las Vegas.
If Larry Nance Jr. is playing 20+ minutes for you a game, you're already in deep trouble, but using him for the 10-15 minutes per game you need from bigs outside of the trio of Siakam, Toppin, and Zubac could lend massive dividends.
At the very least, it will be cool to have him next to TJ McConnell so they can recreate this iconic photo.
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