When it comes to the NBA, some players are good. Some players are valuable. And sometimes, there are situations like now, where those aren’t the same thing.
Nic Claxton is good. But for the Brooklyn Nets? He might never be more valuable than he is right now. That’s the cold truth facing Brooklyn’s front office this offseason. Claxton just wrapped up his first year in a four-year, $100 million contract. He is 25 years old, entering his prime, and still one of the most mobile, switchable rim protectors in the league. Even through injuries, suspensions, and a rocky team season, he put up 10.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. I know those numbers on a screen don’t jump out at most people, but Claxton is still extremely useful.
But here is the issue surrounding him and the Nets:
He is a defensive anchor on a team that isn’t close to competing. The Nets aren’t one move away from anything. They’re not contending next year. They’re not even pretending to. What they are doing is collecting picks, reshaping the roster, and prioritizing development. Claxton, for all his skills, doesn’t fit that timeline anymore, not without costing future opportunity. And that’s why the most obvious decision the Nets can make this summer is also the hardest…
Trade him.
There’s a market for a guy like Claxton. Playoff teams are always in the need of size. Just take the Los Angeles Lakers or the Phoenix Suns for instance, those two years are both center-hungry and hunting for rim protection. Claxton wouldn’t just start for those teams, he would help elevate them. That makes him a high-value trade chip. Claxton checks every box for a contender needing a big. He doesn’t clog the offense. He protects the rim. He runs the floor. That in itself should be able to get you a first-round pick, maybe even multiple.
Keep him, and you risk watching that value fade. Not because Claxton gets worse, but because the league changes fast. Teams shift, contracts expire, opportunities vanish. The last thing the Nets need is to wait too long and end up trying to move a $25 million center with declining leverage.
And by the time this contract is up, Claxton will be 29. The Nets’ best players, most of whom aren’t even fully developed, will just be hitting their stride. Do you want Claxton’s deal sitting on your books when you’re finally ready to build a contender?
This isn’t about giving up on Claxton
It’s about moving him while he still brings something back. Doing this also allows you to focus on some great potential players in this upcoming draft this month, and deal with the other tricky team decisions you have to worry about. The Nets need flexibility. They need assets. And most of all, they need to be ruthless about their rebuild. Claxton’s a good player. But sometimes, being good doesn’t mean you should stay.