Potential Fit
Assuming Phoenix stays put at No. 13 and takes a power forward or center to bolster the frontcourt, Nance’s fit with the Suns might be a little harder to defend. But with rumors swirling about an Eric Bledsoe trade to the New York Knicks for their No. 4 pick, not to mention general manager Ryan McDonough’s stance on drafting the best player available, Nance could be on the team’s radar for a variety of reasons.
Unfortunately, there’s a minor complication in the form of the San Antonio Spurs (because of course the Spurs have to try and ruin anything happy and good in the Valley of the Sun):
After some strong NBA pre-draft workouts, ex-Wyoming F Larry Nance may be climbing into 1st round. Spurs seem especially intrigued.
— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) June 17, 2015
Nance is nowhere near Markieff Morris‘ level in terms of offensive ability, but assuming the Spurs don’t ruin everything, he could help head coach Jeff Hornacek with his lineups as a backup big — namely, Horny wouldn’t have to insert the undersized Marcus Morris or P.J. Tucker at the 4 as often. That alone would aid the Suns on the boards and make this second round selection more than worth the (low) risk.
He’ll need to expand his versatility at the next level, particularly by building on his jump shot and pick and roll defense, but I don’t think many Suns fans would be opposed to taking a second round flier on a recognizably fond name with history within the organization. Unless a potential game changer like Robert Upshaw is still available, the Suns could do a lot worse than Larry Nance Jr.
Next: Conclusion