Nance as a SF?

[ALL HAIL]

Can Nance play/guard SFs?

Is he, with W. Peace, the defensive wing this team has been needing?

I think so, and the sooner this happens the better.

[Kilroy]

I proposed this, so I'll take a shot at explaining my thinking...

First, I don't think SF is where he needs to go... I think hybrid F. He, Randle and Russell need to work together.

Nance has always been a PF as far as I can tell... His greatest basketball attributes, even after a complete college career are his explosiveness, energy level and tenacity. He's not all that skilled... He can clear the glass and defend. He's like a taller Shannon Brown.
I think he's figured that out and realized focusing on being a hustle player and defending is the best way for him to have an NBA career.

So regardless of what he's going to be in the NBA, he's going to need to develop significantly... He's average size for a PF, but he's not big/skilled enough to defend all PFs, and he has no post game/footwork to speak of... And we have Randle.

He's also only about an inch taller than Rick Fox was with similar body type... Fox was a lot more skilled...

So my thinking is that Nance's best hope to become a starter in the NBA is to focus on defense and outside shooting to go along with his explosiveness to be a poor-mans Rick Fox for us.

[ALL HAIL]

I proposed this, so I'll take a shot at explaining my thinking...

First, I don't think SF is where he needs to go... I think hybrid F. He, Randle and Russell need to work together.

Nance has always been a PF as far as I can tell... His greatest basketball attributes, even after a complete college career are his explosiveness, energy level and tenacity. He's not all that skilled... He can clear the glass and defend. He's like a taller Shannon Brown.
I think he's figured that out and realized focusing on being a hustle player and defending is the best way for him to have an NBA career.

So regardless of what he's going to be in the NBA, he's going to need to develop significantly... He's average size for a PF, but he's not big/skilled enough to defend all PFs, and he has no post game/footwork to speak of... And we have Randle.

He's also only about an inch taller than Rick Fox was with similar body type... Fox was a lot more skilled...

So my thinking is that Nance's best hope to become a starter in the NBA is to focus on defense and outside shooting to go along with his explosiveness to be a poor-mans Rick Fox for us.

That's a long yes there.

And he'd be much closer to Ariza than Fox. Fox had ball skills. He could handle and create comfortably. He also wasn't half the athlete that Nance is.

Also, as far as I can tell, you're the last, most recent, guy to propose this.

I, and others, have been saying it since draft day.

It's clear to me the Lakers drafted him to play alongside Randle.

I'm just curious when it'll happen and why guys think it shouldn't happen.

[Levity]

i cant see his offensive game every translating to a SF, but i feel he can definitely guard SF's in this league. So as they both continue to develop, a pairing of randle and nance makes sense. Randles game will slowly reach out to the perimeter, making him an interesting prospect as a SF (offensively), with nance guarding the 3s that randle cant stay in front of, and randle defending the 4s.

still, randle is a ways away from being that player. hes looking more and more confident with his jumper, but i wouldnt put that much pressure on him right now to develop his game as a 3. hes still getting accustomed to actually playing in the NBA, so let him finish out the season as a 4. and this off season, after seeing how he finishes out the year, continue to develop his tweener game, with hopes for a solution in our lacking SF spot.

[Kilroy]

I proposed this, so I'll take a shot at explaining my thinking...

First, I don't think SF is where he needs to go... I think hybrid F. He, Randle and Russell need to work together.

Nance has always been a PF as far as I can tell... His greatest basketball attributes, even after a complete college career are his explosiveness, energy level and tenacity. He's not all that skilled... He can clear the glass and defend. He's like a taller Shannon Brown.
I think he's figured that out and realized focusing on being a hustle player and defending is the best way for him to have an NBA career.

So regardless of what he's going to be in the NBA, he's going to need to develop significantly... He's average size for a PF, but he's not big/skilled enough to defend all PFs, and he has no post game/footwork to speak of... And we have Randle.

He's also only about an inch taller than Rick Fox was with similar body type... Fox was a lot more skilled...

So my thinking is that Nance's best hope to become a starter in the NBA is to focus on defense and outside shooting to go along with his explosiveness to be a poor-mans Rick Fox for us.

That's a long yes there.

And he'd be much closer to Ariza than Fox. Fox had ball skills. He could handle and create comfortably. He also wasn't half the athlete that Nance is.

Also, as far as I can tell, you're the last, most recent, guy to propose this.

I, and others, have been saying it since draft day.

It's clear to me the Lakers drafted him to play alongside Randle.

I'm just curious when it'll happen and why guys think it shouldn't happen.

[TyCobb]

I dont like the fit because of his dribbling skills arent where they would need to be. Randle has a better handle than Nance and he only uses one hand.

[ALL HAIL]

I dont like the fit because of his dribbling skills arent where they would need to be. Randle has a better handle than Nance and he only uses one hand.

If you can guard the position, with Randle's unique presence on the other side, you can "be penciled in" for the spot (SF).

If the idea in your mind of Randle as the offensive SF, with Nance as the offensive PF, makes you more comfortable, feel free to wrap your mind around that.

The idea is that, with the exception of jumpshooting, Nance is the perfect foil, the perfect balance, to Randle. Where Randle comes up short, Nance makes it up (again, with exception of shooting).

[dockingsched]

He should play center long before he should play SF. As a SF his lateral quickness and range are lacking and energy around the rim is wasted.

[Slava]

Haven't we already destroyed one PF's confidence playing him as a SF?

[crazyeights]

Haven't we already destroyed one PF's confidence playing him as a SF?

Ryan Kelly is essentially the complete opposite of Nance.

I don't see why we'd leap up and draft Nance with a 1st round pick if we didn't see him fitting next to Randle.

He has the potential to be a great glue-guy. He's got defensive Swiss Army Knife potential. I'd have to look it up, but I also doubt his lateral quickness isn't on par with the elite SF defenders drafted above him. I seem to remember Nance's combine agility drills impressing.

I also think he's more skilled than given credit for, just a little rough around the edges. For now he seems to have simplified his game, which has been working.

[Slava]

Haven't we already destroyed one PF's confidence playing him as a SF?

Ryan Kelly is essentially the complete opposite of Nance.

I don't see why we'd leap up and draft Nance with a 1st round pick if we didn't see him fitting next to Randle.

He has the potential to be a great glue-guy. He's got defensive Swiss Army Knife potential. I'd have to look it up, but I also doubt his lateral quickness isn't on par with the elite SF defenders drafted above him. I seem to remember Nance's combine agility drills impressing.

I also think he's more skilled than given credit for, just a little rough around the edges. For now he seems to have simplified his game, which has been working.

How many teams draft at #27 expecting a starter? I like Nance but I'd much rather play him as a small ball center than SF mainly because that draws him away from the rim where his help defense is good and his mobility becomes normal than exceptional for that position.

[Kilroy]

I dont like the fit because of his dribbling skills arent where they would need to be. Randle has a better handle than Nance and he only uses one hand.

I don't see the need for him to dribble hardly at all. Like you said Randle can do that from the forward position and with clarkson and russell on the perimeter, I think his main jobs on offense are going to be setting screens, finding open spots, knocking down jumpers, and rebounding. In fact if he puts the ball on the floor, I'd be inclined to pull him and let him think about the error of his ways for a while.

[Kilroy]

He should play center long before he should play SF. As a SF his lateral quickness and range are lacking and energy around the rim is wasted.

But he also has Zero post skills and no footwork... I think he's still a PF on a small ball lineup.

[ArC_man]

I would go small. I think we can get away with playing MWP, Nance, and Randle at the 3/4/5.

[Kilroy]

I would go small. I think we can get away with playing MWP, Nance, and Randle at the 3/4/5.

There's logic in this too... Especially with MWP's shot falling lately. It could even be an alternative lineup for when we face a small ball team.

[LApwnd]

Sure why not...not like dreymond green was like todays green in the beginning and now hes oretty solid hybrid forward. I think Randle could play sf as well eventually once he has a consistent mid-range

[ALL HAIL]

Haven't we already destroyed one PF's confidence playing him as a SF?

Ryan Kelly is essentially the complete opposite of Nance.

I don't see why we'd leap up and draft Nance with a 1st round pick if we didn't see him fitting next to Randle.

He has the potential to be a great glue-guy. He's got defensive Swiss Army Knife potential. I'd have to look it up, but I also doubt his lateral quickness isn't on par with the elite SF defenders drafted above him. I seem to remember Nance's combine agility drills impressing.

I also think he's more skilled than given credit for, just a little rough around the edges. For now he seems to have simplified his game, which has been working.

How many teams draft at #27 expecting a starter? I like Nance but I'd much rather play him as a small ball center than SF mainly because that draws him away from the rim where his help defense is good and his mobility becomes normal than exceptional for that position.

You don't have to pick just one. He can play some center, some PF, and alot of SF (because of the defensive chasm there).

[crazyeights]

Haven't we already destroyed one PF's confidence playing him as a SF?

Ryan Kelly is essentially the complete opposite of Nance.

I don't see why we'd leap up and draft Nance with a 1st round pick if we didn't see him fitting next to Randle.

He has the potential to be a great glue-guy. He's got defensive Swiss Army Knife potential. I'd have to look it up, but I also doubt his lateral quickness isn't on par with the elite SF defenders drafted above him. I seem to remember Nance's combine agility drills impressing.

I also think he's more skilled than given credit for, just a little rough around the edges. For now he seems to have simplified his game, which has been working.

How many teams draft at #27 expecting a starter? I like Nance but I'd much rather play him as a small ball center than SF mainly because that draws him away from the rim where his help defense is good and his mobility becomes normal than exceptional for that position.

There's a flip-side to that: if you're picking a role player, then why not one who fits in with a core member of your team? If late picks are essentially just end of the bench guys, then isn't fit way more important?

(Also, if I'm a GM I'm always looking for a guy with starter potential, especially for guaranteed money. If I had the time, I'd love to go through every playoff team last year and chart where each team's starter was drafted. I'd bet there are a number of late 1sts or 2nd rounders who are the glue-guys/defensive guys of a team. Usually defensive players who aren't bigs aren't drafted high. I think since Kawhi Leonard and Draymond that paradigm has started to shift, however.)

I'm not saying that Nance has to start, but there's no denying why they drafted him: his defensive versatility, and as a glue-guy. He's not going to get you 20ppg. He doesn't even need the ball to be effective. It's guys like him who are unselfish who can make the other 4 guys work together.

You need at least 1 guy aside from the PG in every line-up who is looking to make things happen aside from himself--one that can guard multiple positions.

If they drafted Jr. thinking he'd play behind Randle...okay, but that's a waste of his potential versatility.

Randle will soon be playing 36 minutes a game. Obviously they're going to need to play together. As our two forwards makes a lot of sense to me. Unless you want to go small, which in the future I could see A. Brown/Nance/Randle as Randle can bang with the biggest opposing big, and Nance comes off the weak-side.

[gts1]

Nance doesn't have the skills at this time to play SF, maybe in a couple years when/if he should develop a more consistent jump shot... right now he's ok from the left corner but everywhere else his jump shot is trash and having him constantly defending out on the perimeter or playing offense out that far is a waste of one of his stronger attributes which is his springs

[dockingsched]

He should play center long before he should play SF. As a SF his lateral quickness and range are lacking and energy around the rim is wasted.

But he also has Zero post skills and no footwork... I think he's still a PF on a small ball lineup.

well i wouldn't expect him to be posting up cause he's playing center. id expect his offensive role to remain the same. defensively he'd be able to maintain his very good lateral quickness to defend the pnr. biggest change would be more post defense and rim protecting, which i think with his strong frame and vertical, he can adapt to pretty well.