Cavaliers Facing Frontcourt Questions as Larry Nance Jr. Struggles to Contribute
Heading into the 2025 offseason, the Cleveland Cavaliers weren’t expected to make much noise in free agency. With their payroll sitting above the second apron, the front office was boxed in by the new CBA restrictions, limiting their ability to chase big-name upgrades.
And truth be told, the free agency market didn’t offer much excitement across the board. But even within those limitations, the Cavs managed to make a move that, at the time, felt like a smart, low-risk win: bringing back Larry Nance Jr. on a one-year veteran minimum deal.
It was a reunion that made sense on paper. Nance had history with the franchise, familiarity with the system, and the kind of versatility that could help stabilize Cleveland’s frontcourt rotation behind Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. He wasn’t expected to be a game-changer - just a steady, experienced presence who could give the Cavs quality minutes off the bench.
But as the season has unfolded, that plan has unraveled.
Nance’s impact has been minimal at best. He’s collected more DNPs than meaningful minutes, and injuries - a recurring theme throughout his NBA career - have once again kept him sidelined. Most recently, a lingering calf issue forced him to miss yet another game on Friday, continuing a stretch where his presence has been more theoretical than tangible.
It’s left Cleveland scrambling for answers in the frontcourt, and so far, it’s been Nae’Qwan Tomlin who’s stepped into the void.
Tomlin, playing on a two-way contract, has quietly become one of the more intriguing developments in the Cavs’ season. The 25-year-old has shown flashes of real potential, providing energy, length, and defensive versatility - all things the Cavs desperately need off the bench. He’s not a finished product by any means, but he’s giving Cleveland something they simply haven’t gotten from Nance: availability and activity.
If Tomlin continues to hold his own, the Cavaliers may have no choice but to convert his deal into a standard NBA contract. Two-way players have a cap on the number of games they can appear in, and Cleveland can’t afford to waste opportunities to get meaningful minutes out of someone who’s actually producing.
Meanwhile, Nance’s numbers tell the story of a player who’s struggling to make an impact. He’s averaging just 3.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game, shooting a rough 35.4% from the field and 30.3% from three.
For a team that needs reliable production from its bench bigs, that’s not going to cut it. At 32, Nance may be better suited for a veteran leadership role than a rotational one - and even that only goes so far when the team is trying to stay competitive in a deep Eastern Conference.
With the trade deadline creeping closer, the Cavaliers are now staring down a tough decision: ride it out with what they have, or get creative and look for help on the market.
Koby Altman and the front office don’t have much flexibility, thanks to the second apron restrictions. Navigating the trade market won’t be easy. But if Nance can’t provide meaningful minutes and Tomlin’s emergence isn’t enough to fully patch the hole, Cleveland may be forced to explore external options.
The Cavs don’t need a star - they just need someone who can hold the line behind Mobley and Allen. Someone who can rebound, defend, and play within the system.
Nance was supposed to be that guy. Right now, he’s not.
Unless something changes - and quickly - the Cavaliers may have to shift gears and find a new answer to a question they thought was already solved.