Los Angeles Lakers: Predicting 3 players who won’t be around in 2018

Larry Nance Jr., PF

I know folks would be disappointed if this prediction came true. Larry Nance Jr. is a fan favorite of sorts, often lauded for his underrated impact off the bench and high-flying dunks. However, as we found out this offseason, even fan favorites are not invincible when it comes to trades.

Losing Nance would absolutely be a big blow to this Lakers squad. He’s a spark plug for the second unit, providing solid defense, rebounding and the occasional highlight on offense. Although his ability to score consistently is still a work in progress, it’s easy to see why Los Angeles values him.

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Unfortunately, if the Lakers plan on acquiring two superstars next offseason, they need to make cap space. In order for them to unload some of their larger contracts, they’ll need to throw in some quality pieces to make a salary dump worth it for the team receiving said salary. That’s where a player like Nance could come into the equation.

Los Angeles already has a capable starting power forward in Julius Randle. Kyle Kuzma figures to see some action at the 4 in smaller lineups as well, so losing Nance wouldn’t be a death sentence for the bench unit.

Realistically, Nance could be a starter for another team in need of help at power forward. He’s well-rounded enough to warrant a starting gig, and has shown significant improvement during his two years in Los Angeles. If the Lakers are going to move the two upcoming names on this list, the former No. 27 overall pick could be tossed in as an incentive.