New Orleans Pelicans, Larry Nance Jr. attain 2-year, $21.6M extension, agent says

New Orleans Pelicans ahead Larry Nance Jr. has agreed to a two-year, $21.6 million contract extension, his agent, Mark Bartelstein of Precedence Sports activities, advised ESPN on Saturday.

The extension, tying Nance Jr. to the franchise via the 2024-2025 season, permits him to hitch the Pelicans’ key gamers — together with Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum — on long-term offers.

Nance Jr. was was coming into the ultimate 12 months of a four-year, $48 million contract.

The 29-year-old ahead arrived to the Pelicans in a February commerce with the Portland Path Blazers as a part of a bundle with McCollum, and he did not make his debut till March 24 with a proper knee damage. Nance Jr. impacted the Pelicans’ run to the Western Convention playoffs, delivering 14 factors and 16 rebounds in a Play-In victory over the LA Clippers and scoring in double figures thrice within the seven-game Western Convention playoff sequence.

“I am lastly wholesome,” Nance Jr. stated just lately. “I performed the tip of the season nonetheless recovering from the surgical procedure. The meniscus surgical procedure I had, I did not understand how lengthy that had been bothering me. I had misplaced a step, misplaced slightly little bit of steadiness and all that got here again in the summertime. I really feel good. I really feel higher than I’ve the previous few years.”

Nance Jr. thrived for New Orleans as a small-ball heart off the bench within the playoffs and can proceed in that function this season. With him at heart, the Pelicans can make the most of switching lineups with all 5 defenders at occasions. He may additionally play his pure energy ahead place and even play in huge lineups with two of Williamson, Jaxson Hayes, Jonas Valanciunas or Willy Hernangomez at occasions.

Pelicans senior vice chairman of basketball operations David Griffin and common supervisor Trajan Langdon have reshaped and solidified a roster that is anticipated to grow to be a formidable contender within the Western Convention.

McCollum agreed to a brand new two-year, $64 million extension every week in the past that ties him to the franchise via 2025-26. Williamson and Ingram are on max contracts via 2026-27 and 2024-25, respectively.

Nance Jr., has had stops with the Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Blazers. He has averaged 8.1 factors and 6.5 rebounds in his seven NBA seasons since getting drafted twenty ninth general out of Wyoming in 2015.

ESPN’s Andrew Lopez contributed to this report.