Hawks veteran looks like potential trade candidate after 2 games

It has only been two games, two wins no less. However, a striking early trend is developing for veteran big man Larry Nance Jr.

Despite the excitement from the Hawks’ social media team – a notably separate entity from its basketball operations department – Nance has been a no-go in either consent so far. Even in the early going, Hawks head coach Quin Snyder has relied on a nine-man rotation.

Of course, both games have been surprisingly tight late.

Larry Nance looks like a trade candidate through 2 games

Snyder has needed to keep his starters in and that may have thrown off his plans for the deeper parts of the bench. Then again, Nance’s inclusion in that group alone could signal something larger at work.

Acquired a part of the trade that sent Dejounte Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans, Nance has vocalized his belief that the Hawks could surprise and contend for a playoff spot.

“If you look at the East, we got a number amount of teams that aren't looking to make the playoffs or care more about their draft stock than wins, and we're not one of those teams,” Nance said on “The Hoop Collective” podcast. So, hopefully, if we do what we're supposed to do, we'll snag an 8-seed, snag a 7-seed, surprise some people.”

However, Nance also admitted the Hawks were the one team where he had no previous ties.

Nance was a part of Hawks media day – which is notably in contrast to fellow Murray trade acquisition, Cody Zeller – and spoke about embracing his leadership role.

“I'm excited,” Nance told reports on September 30. “This is Year 10 for me, and I think I was talking with Bogi [Bogdan Bogdanovic] before this, that it's just me and Clint [as] guys above 10 years. And he's even got me beat.

“It's a super young team and I'm just – I'm just really excited to impart some knowledge and kind of show some of these young guys the ropes. It's not easy to stay in the league for 10 years, and learning how to be professional is a major part of that.”

Nance is the “middle child” of the group, smack between Bogdanovic and Capela in age.

He participated in the preseason, showing a decent connection with Trae Young as a lob threat for the preternatural passer.

But that was notably while backup center Onyeka Okongwu got into game shape after having surgery on his toe in April. In the final year of a two-year, $21.5 million contract, Nance has drawn plenty of trade interest.

“The Hawks have been trying to trade Clint Capela for more than a year, but league sources say that the Atlanta big man drawing the most external interest is newly acquired Larry Nance Jr.,” The Stein Line’s Marc Stein wrote on July 11 (subscription required). “Word is Nance, who came to the Hawks in the recent Dejounte Murray trade, is being chased by multiple teams in need of proven size.”

Perhaps with Okongwu back, Hawks general manager Landry Fields and head coach Quin Snyder have decided to put him under wraps until they can work out his future.

Fields already said that was the plan for Zeller.

They appeared to have more in mind for Nance. And it has only been two games, so it is far too early for referendums. But with Bogdanovic out versus the Hornets, Snyder (understandably) turned to Garrison Mathews as the ninth man in the rotation.

If it is going to take a specific injury to someone ahead of him, then moving Nance might be a more prudent path than it seemed.

We will see if anything changes when the Hawks visit the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday.