CLEVELAND, OH – NOVEMBER 29: Pete Nance #11 of the Cleveland Charge dunks against the Grand Rapids … [+] Gold on November 29, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio at the Wolstein Center. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)
Pete Nance was on a 10-day deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers earlier this season. Now, he’s continuing his NBA journey with an upgraded contract.
On Monday evening, the Cavs announced that they had signed the 24-year-old Nance to a two-way deal. Nance fills the two-way slot vacated by Craig Porter Jr., who the team signed to a standard multi-year contract before the All-Star break.
Nance is the younger brother of former Cavalier (and current New Orleans Pelican) Larry Nance Jr. and the son of Cavs legend Larry Nance Sr. He played in college at Northwestern for four years before playing one year at North Carolina after attending Revere High School in Akron. He was not selected in last year’s NBA draft before signing with the Cleveland as an undrafted free agent.
Nance was on the Cavaliers’ 2023 Summer League team that won the title before signing with the team on a training camp deal. He did not make the Cavs’ main roster, but ended up with the Cleveland Charge in the G League. In 29 games with the Charge, Nance has averages of 13.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.3 blocks in 31.5 minutes.
On Jan. 10, in a Charge game against the Indiana Mad Ants, Nance posted the team’s first triple-double in two years with a 27-point, 12-assist, 10-rebound performance.
Nance’s best skill is that he’s a big shooter. About half of his shots in the G League have come from three and he’s shooting 36.3% from three. If he is going to stick in the NBA’s, it’s going to be on the back of that one skill while he improves in other areas.
Don’t expect Nance to spend much time in the NBA this season, though. Cleveland doesn’t have minutes at the four for Nance with Evan Mobley starting and Dean Wade and Georges Niang coming off of the bench. Nance could be with the team for some games, but he would benefit from continuing to play with the Charge to get game reps.
Nance, though, could face his brother if he’s with the Cavs on March 13 when the Cavaliers play the Pelicans in New Orleans.
In addition to Nance, the Cavaliers have Isaiah Mobley and Emoni Bates signed to two-way deals.
