The Nets are in the midst of an exclusive negotiation window with Nic Claxton, while other NBA teams technically cannot throw offers at the free agent center until 6 p.m. ET on June 30.
Someone is going to give the 25-year-old a lucrative new deal to be their starting center next season. The Nets have the first crack at extension talks with him, but if they fall short and he ends up elsewhere in 2024-25, would that be the worst thing for the franchise?
Probably not, to be honest.
Claxton, 25, is a home-grown talent in Brooklyn and that means something. He has improved at both ends of the court since being selected with the 31st overall pick out of Georgia in the 2019 NBA Draft and the team has made it known that re-signing him this offseason has been one of its top priorities. First-year head coach Jordi Fernandez believes Claxton can be a future Defensive Player of the Year in this league.
Having a veteran presence such as Claxton on the roster would make Fernandez’s job much easier in his inaugural campaign. The center averaged 11.8 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.1 blocks last season, emerging as one of the better two-way starters in the league at his position.
Claxton enters free agency as one of the better available centers, if not the best, for a reason. He is a great finisher around the basket, converting on 76.9% of his attempts at the rim last season, and his bouncy athleticism makes him a dangerous lob threat whenever he steps on the court.
However, Claxton’s offensive repertoire is limited. He shot 19-for-62 on jumpers last season (30.6%), including five 3-point attempts in which he made just one. He is not a great free throw shooter either, converting on just 54.4% of his career attempts.
Claxton did showcase an ability to slash to the rim in the open court and handle the ball a bit in traffic at times. But we did not see it often enough for anyone to view those skills as part of his bag. It is difficult to tell whether Claxton has another level he can reach on offense, or if what we have already seen is the best representation of the guy he will always be.
Perhaps it boils down to poor coaching at that end of the court. Maybe that is a poor excuse and that is just who he is.
Questions like these are what makes evaluating Claxton’s worth on the open market so difficult. While he has All-Defensive potential, the fact remains that he has not been named to an All-Defensive Team, or an All-Star team for that matter. Yes, he has been good for the Nets, but if they were to plug centers like Jonas Valanciunas or Isaiah Hartenstein into his role, would they take a step back as a team or enjoy similar production?
Just because Claxton has been good for Brooklyn does not mean it cannot find a better fit, at a better price, down the line. And the truth is, letting Claxton walk in free agency would simply jumpstart a rebuilding phase many view as an inevitable fate for the Nets.
Sure, letting Claxton walk for nothing would not be ideal. But depending on what offers he gets in the coming weeks, potentially overpaying for a center who is not guaranteed to improve much going forward is a dangerous position to be in.
After all, Day’Ron Sharpe and second-year forward Noah Clowney are still on the roster, also oozing with untapped potential that needs to be cultivated. Both are better fits long-term if Brooklyn decides to rebuild. The Nets have thrived when it comes to identifying young frontcourt gems in the past, so replacing Claxton is nowhere close to impossible.
Claxton’s defensive versatility is what will be missed the most, if he does end up elsewhere. His ability to step out on the perimeter and defend multiple positions is valued in today’s switch-heavy NBA. Still, his talent is probably better utilized as a missing piece for a contending team rather than on a struggling Nets squad with plenty of holes to fill.
By 12:01 p.m. ET on July 6, the earliest teams can start signing free agents to contracts, Claxton’s future should be decided. And if he does decide to bolt for one of his many expected suiters, it may ultimately be the best thing for everyone involved.
The Nets are ways away from being contenders in the Eastern Conference again. That will not change next season whether Claxton is on the roster or not.
