NBA insiders provide new update on Larry Nance trade rumors

The trade deadline is two months away, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be any rumors leading up to the deadline. One of the most popular names heading into the February deadline will be Hawks center Larry Nance Jr. Nance was acquired over the summer as part of the deal that sent Dejounte Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans, and he was a very serviceable player for the New Orleans Pelicans Falcons. The problem was that the Hawks already have two centers, Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu, and Nance doesn’t play much for the Hawks. In addition, his contract expires. When you combine these things, you have a player that other teams will be interested in. Recently, NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer provided an update on the Nance rumors and it doesn’t sound like the Hawks are in a rush to move him.

Here’s what Stein had to say:

The Hawks continue to reject any trade interest in versatile veteran forward Larry Nance Jr. … just as they did throughout the offseason after Nance, along with defensive star Dyson Daniels, came to Atlanta from the New Orleans Pelicans as part of the Dejounte Murray trade. “

And here’s what Fischer had to say:

“I know the Hawks really like Larry (Nance Jr.). I don’t think they’re actively shopping him,” Fischer said during a livestream on Bleacher Report on Dec. 6. “If they get real value for him.” They would definitely take him on the trade market and probably move him.“

While it would make sense for the Hawks to move Nance, they also shouldn’t rush into doing so as he actually provides value to the team. For example, the Hawks were missing Jalen Johnson in last night’s loss to the Nuggets, and although Quin Snyder was hesitant to play Nance in the four-man lineup, he did so last night to avoid having De’Andre Hunter on the bench. Nance played 24 minutes and scored 16 points on 6-for-11 shooting from the field. He doesn’t play every night, but when he does he often makes an impression.

There will likely be rumors about the Atlanta centers leading up to the deadline. Not only Nance is mentioned as a potential trade candidate, but also Clint Capela, whose contract is also expiring. Capela has been a solid player this season, but again, the Hawks have a standstill at center and could get something valuable for these guys on the market.

So what should the Hawks’ plans be at the deadline? Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus recently shared his thoughts on the matter:

Goal: Opportunistic improvement

Names to watch: Clint Capela, Onyeka Okongwu, Larry Nance Jr., De’Andre Hunter

“The Hawks are better than a year ago, but not yet a contender for the upper league in the Eastern Conference. Capela and Nance’s contracts expire. Do the Hawks view Okongwu, who has been on the bench for 23.7 minutes, as a backup starter for Capela (who averages 22.8)? Should the team take advantage of Hunter’s strong play or hope he stays healthy to help the team win?

The answers aren’t clear yet, but Atlanta doesn’t have its first-round pick in 2025 (to the San Antonio Spurs), so any form of “tanking” is out of the question.”

I think the best course of action for the Hawks right now is to stay with the team until the deadline approaches, unless an incredible deal is offered to them. This team is legitimately playing very well right now, and while they’re not NBA Finals contenders, they could finish in the top six in the East.

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