Report: Cleveland Cavaliers, Larry Nance Jr. have mutual interest in contract extension

At the 2017-18 trade deadline, the Cleveland Cavaliers shook up their roster with a series of trades. One such move on that day landed them Larry Nance Jr. from the Los Angeles Lakers, a player who proved valuable at times to the Cavs’ run to the 2018 Finals.

He averaged 8.9 points and 7.0 rebounds per game after landing in Cleveland on Feb. 8 and averaged 4.8 ppg and 4.5 rpg in the playoffs as his role fluctuated throughout the postseason. Potential abounds for Nance Jr., who is the son of Cavs legend Larry Nance, and Cleveland wants to keep him around going forward.

Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com reports there is mutual interest between Nance Jr. and the Cavs in getting a contract extension done this summer:

Multiple league sources told cleveland.com there is “a ton” of interest on both sides to discuss an extension for Nance, who is 25 and is the son of former Cavs great Larry Nance Sr. …

The Cavs have expressed to Nance that they view him as a foundational piece, sources said. …

Nance has played three seasons, and the Cavs can offer him a four-year extension to the final year of his existing contract. Technically, the first year of the extension could be worth about $25 million — a max salary — but that’s not the number Nance will reach.

Inking Nance to an extension isn’t a pressing matter — the Cavs will want to see what happens with LeBron James and what other roster reshaping moves develop before they turn their attention to him, sources said. If they never reach an agreement, the Cavs would still have Nance’s rights and could make him a restricted free agent in the summer of 2019.

Rodney Hood, another player the Cavs acquired in their mid-season overhaul, has a less certain future with the team. He is a restricted free agent this summer and had solid raw stats (10.8 ppg, 35.2 3-point pct.) with the Cavs in 2017-18. But his performance swooned in the playoffs (5.4 ppg, 16.7 3-point pct.) which may have cost him some leverage at the negotiating table, Vardon writes:

Most NBA insiders say Hood cost himself lots of money with his postseason struggles, limiting the contract offers he might get this summer …

The Cavs could still sign him to a long-term contract in July without first making a qualifying offer. Team sources say they like Hood and his future on the team, but no one’s tipped a hand as to what’s next for him.

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