Los Angeles Lakers: 2 things to watch upon Larry Nance Jr.’s return

Final thoughts:

For all the hype surrounding the positive play of Julius Randle and Kyle Kuzma in the part of the season, it’s really impressive that Larry Nance Jr. starts at the 4 for the Los Angeles Lakers with coach Luke Walton doubling down on this move by planning on immediately placing him back in the starting lineup.

The reasons for this move make sense when evaluating this situation. The starting lineup remains strong with Nance slotting next to Brook Lopez in the frontcourt, rekindling their two-man game that was both productive and fun to watch on the court.

Nance is a high-efficiency player that serves as a lob target and outlet target for lead guard Lonzo Ball to search for with his diverse passing game. Nance won’t take away touches from improving swingman Brandon Ingram, who could also benefit from Nance’s athleticism as Ingram is growing as a passer.

Finally, the move strengthens the Los Angeles Lakers bench unit with Kyle Kuzma now working against backups on a regular basis. It also gives coach Walton a strong alternative if Nance takes some time to find his stride upon returning with little-to-none drop-off given Kuzma has plenty of experience playing with the starters.

Next: 2017-18 Week 6 NBA Power Rankings

The return of Larry Nance Jr. has Lakers teammates and coaches excited, and it’s pretty remarkable he recovered under the four-week timetable that was originally set for his hand fracture. Nance got in a full practice, and should be back to action this week, just in time for a tough stretch of games coming up for the Los Angeles Lakers.