Entering his first full season with his hometown team, Larry Nance Jr.'s status for the Cleveland Cavaliers' season opener appears to be in doubt.
On Thursday, the team announced that Nance suffered a right ankle sprain during practice prior to the team's trip to East Lansing, Mich. for their preseason finale against the Detroit Pistons on Friday. According to the Cavs, Nance "will undergo a period of treatment, rehab and re-evaluation over the next several days. His status will be updated as appropriate."
It's reasonable to believe Nance could miss -- or at the very least, be limited -- in Cleveland's season opener on Wednesday against the Toronto Raptors. Recovery time on ankle sprains depend on the severity of the injury, but often take at least two weeks to fully recover from.
Nance's ankle sprain makes it likely Tristan Thompson will start at center against Toronto on Wednesday -- something that he likely would have done anyway due to the matchup vs. Raptors 7-foot center Jonas Valanciunas. Earlier this offseason, Cavs head coach Tyronn Lue said that he would alternate Thompson and Nance in the starting lineup depending on the opponent Cleveland was going against.
Acquired in a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers at the trade deadline last season, Nance appeared in 24 games for the Cavs last season, averaging 8.9 points and 7.0 rebounds. A native of Akron and the son of Cavs legend Larry Nance Sr., the younger Nance is expected to play a prominent role in Cleveland's new uptempo approach following the departure of LeBron James.
