The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed power forward Larry Nance Jr. to a four-year, $45 million contract extension, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports.
Nance Jr. was entering the final year of his rookie contract. If he and the Cavs didn’t agree to an extension, Nance Jr. would have become a restricted free agent in the summer of 2019.
The Cavs acquired Larry Nance Jr. from the Los Angeles Lakers at the 2018 February trade deadline in the Isaiah Thomas deal. The 25-year-old appeared in 24 regular-season games with the Cavs, and averaged 8.9 points and 7.0 rebounds per contest while shooting 55.0 percent from the field.
During Cleveland’s 2018 postseason run, Nance Jr. played in 20 games and posted 4.8 points and 4.5 rebounds in roughly 16 minutes per game. Nance Jr. and the Cavs had mutual interest in getting a deal done before the season started. The franchise likes the energy he plays with and is high on his offensive potential.
Nance Jr. will be the primary back up to All-Star Kevin Love this season at the power forward spot. The high-flyer has career averages of 7.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 192 NBA games. Nance Jr. played his high school ball in Ohio and went to The University of Wyoming for college. His father, Larry Nance Sr., played seven seasons in Cleveland.