Best And Worst Case Scenarios For The Lakers’ 2015 Draft Picks
Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports
Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports

Larry Nance Jr. – Best Case: Thaddeus Young, Worst Case: Louis Amundson

Larry Nance Jr. was the most unknown of the Lakers’ picks as many experts had him pegged as a second-round pick at best. Nonetheless, there are a lot of things to like about Nance’s game.

Nance uses his athleticism, speed, and length to be effective on both ends of the floor. He’s an average rebounder and shooter, but his activity and heart give opponents fits as he never takes plays off. Thaddeus Young of the Brooklyn Nets has a very similar build and style and has made it work for him in his career thus far.

— Have you seen the ‘Lakers Nation’ phone case? —

Like Nance, Young is slightly undersized as a power forward and relies more on his length and athleticism to be effective. He doesn’t need plays to be ran for him, but his understanding of how to get open and finding spaces in the defense gets him a ton of easy baskets. Young is also quick enough to switch out on wings defensively and cover them on pick-and-rolls.

If Nance wants to have a long NBA career, he will have to thrive in the dirty work role. Non-stop activity and hustle will be his bread and butter, and defensive versatility will be his calling card. He likely won’t ever be in the situation Young was to put up the scoring numbers that Young did, but his style of play is something that Nance should be looking to emulate as he can be a stat-sheet stuffer.

Louis Amundson always seems to find a home somewhere in the NBA as an end of the bench hustle guy. If Nance is unable to develop his skills, he could find himself in a similar role as a journeyman big struggling keep a foothold with a singular team in the league.

CONTINUE READING: Best And Worst Case Scenarios For The Lakers’ 2015 Draft Picks

You May Also Like

Kobe Bryant’s Father Joe ‘Jellybean’ Bryant Dies At Age 69

Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant’s father Joe Bryant has died at the age of 86…

Lakers News: Robert Horry Suggests ‘Two-Face’ Kobe Bryant Statue

With the announcement that a statue for late, great Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant will be unveiled on February 8, 2024, discussion has since turned to what the statue should look like…

Former Lakers Center Shaquille O’Neal Opening Big Chicken Restaurant Across From Americana At Brand In Glendale

Six months after opening ‘Shaquille’s’ on the L.A. Live campus across the street from Staples Center, former Los Angeles…

Video: Kobe Bets Gerald Wallace $5K at Free Throw Line

The Los Angeles Lakers won a thriller last night in Staples Center against…