The Indiana Pacers’ latest free-agent move is about more than just shoring up the front court.
On Wednesday, July 8, Indiana agreed to a one-year, $4 million deal with veteran big man Larry Nance Jr. To make the signing work financially, the Pacers waived center Micah Potter.
Nance hasn’t been part of an NBA rotation since the 2023-24 season with the New Orleans Pelicans, and he spent last season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he appeared in 35 games and averaged 3.7 points and 2.7 rebounds. But Indiana’s interest clearly wasn’t limited to what shows up in the box score.
The Pacers have consistently valued veteran presence in their locker room, and Nance fits that mold. His reputation around the league has long been tied to being a strong teammate, and that was reinforced by Tony East, who covers Indiana for Forbes.
"Also FWIW, Larry Nance has long been described to me as one of the best people/teammates in the NBA," East wrote on X.
That kind of profile matters to Indiana, which added Nance as depth up front but also as a steadying voice behind the scenes. If the 33-year-old forward is asked to play, he should be ready. Just as important, he brings a presence that can matter even when he’s not on the floor.
Nance entered the league as the No. 27 overall pick in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. Since then, he’s built an 11-season career across six teams, and the Pacers will be his seventh. In 581 appearances and 140 starts, he has averaged 7.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.1 steals per game.
He’s always had athleticism in his game, even if he isn’t the same kind of explosive player he was when he first arrived in the NBA.
For Indiana, the appeal is straightforward: a reliable backup in the front court and a respected presence in the room. Those are the kinds of pieces championship teams tend to lean on.
Now the question is how Nance fits into the Pacers’ rotation, if and when his number is called.
In Other News...
Larry Nance Jr. Just Landed In A Spot Cavs Fans Will Notice
Larry Nance Jr. has landed in Indiana on a one-year veterans minimum deal, giving the Pacers another experienced frontcourt option as they continue to sort through a busy stretch of roster business. The move came as part of a flurry of transactions finalized July 9, with Indiana also bringing back some depth and trimming elsewhere to keep the books and roster slots moving in the right direction.
For Cavaliers fans, Nances new stop will register right away because it places a familiar name in a different kind of situation, one where the Pacers are juggling multiple additions at once. Indiana has also added Kelly Oubre Jr. and Kobe Brown while working through a crowded two-way picture, so Nance arrives in a group that still has a few moving parts before the summer dust fully settles. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Bring Back Kobe Brown As Roster Picture Starts Taking Shape
The Pacers have added another familiar name to their offseason mix, agreeing to bring back Kobe Brown on a two-way contract as the roster picture begins to settle. Brown, the No. 30 pick in the 2023 draft, came to Indiana in a trade from the Clippers and gave the team a look at his versatility last season, averaging 9.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 27 games.
For now, the move gives Indiana another option in the two-way pool as the front office keeps sorting out the back end of the roster. Browns deal lets him move between the NBA club and its developmental affiliate, and it also comes at a time when the Pacers still have other two-way business to resolve before the group is finalized. [Read more 🡒]