Larry Nance Jr. longed to participate in in the Slam Dunk Contest, and this year a dream of his came true. Adding to the sentimental value of following in his father’s footsteps was that Nance would take center stage on NBA All-Star Saturday Night as a hometown representative at Staples Center.
But the Los Angeles Lakers flipped that on its head with a deadline-day trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Nance, along with Jordan Clarkson, were traded to the Cavs in exchange for Channing Frye, Isaiah Thomas and a first-round pick in the 2018 Draft.
Although the third-year forward was uprooted for the first time in his professional career, the trade represented an opportunity for the Akron, Ohio, native to head home and play for the same franchise his father did.