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Get To Know The Los Angeles Lakers’ 2015 Draft Class

By Jackson Sanders

Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; D'Angelo Russell (Ohio State) shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number two overall pick to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; D'Angelo Russell (Ohio State) shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number two overall pick to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 22, 2013; Laramie, WY, USA; Wyoming Cowboys forward Larry  Nance Jr (22) dunks the ball against the Northern Colorado Bears during the second half at Arena-Auditorium. The Cowboys beat the Bears 72-59. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 22, 2013; Laramie, WY, USA; Wyoming Cowboys forward Larry  Nance Jr (22) dunks the ball against the Northern Colorado Bears during the second half at Arena-Auditorium. The Cowboys beat the Bears 72-59. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports /

Larry  Nance Jr. : Future Fan Favorite

Nance was certainly an unexpected pick, but what he brings to the roster is fairly transparent: a fantastic motor and unbelievably bouncy athleticism. If he can parlay the two into a bench role for the Los Angeles Lakers, he will surely become a fan favorite.

With 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks per-40 minutes his senior season at Wyoming, it appears as though he has the capability to make some crowd pleasing defensive contributions. According to DraftExpress, he is not an outstanding individual defender, but has shown the ability to defend both wings and post players to varying degrees of success.

His physical tools — 7’2” wingspan and a 37.5 inch max vertical — should serve him well as he attempts to become a versatile defender for the Lakers.

But, the reason the Lakers took him in the first round? Nance should thrive in transition.

With an ideal lineup featuring D’Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson playing together, the Lakers should look to play much faster than before. Having a guy that can punish defenses in transition like that? Useful. Quite useful, indeed.

In the big picture, Nance is going to be a bench piece for the Lakers. That’s what they drafted him for. It was certainly a smart move to begin building depth, and even though Nance will probably be a D-Fender for much of the next season, he will certainly have an opportunity to provide Laker fans with transition slams at some point.

Next: Small Forward Solution?

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