A couple of weeks ago, Jeff Clark explored the possibility of the C’s trading for former All-Star Domantas Sabonis. His box score stuffing brand of basketball was enticing, but ultimately both he and the CelticsBlog comment section weren’t super enthused at the idea of adding the Sacramento Kings five-man.
That doesn’t mean that the Celtics shouldn’t look to improve the frontcourt though. Neemias Queta has exceeded most people’s expectations, NikNBA aside, to start the season and should be thought of as a long term piece for Boston. Behind him, the front court isn’t the most inspiring. Rather than remind you of Luka Garza’s struggles, let’s jump straight to the subject of today’s “Should we trade for?”: Nic Claxton.
A 2019 draftee, Nic Claxton has had somewhat of a reemergent year for a god-awful Brooklyn Nets team this season. He’s 26 years old and is putting up a respectable statline of 13.3 PPG, 7.3 REB, and 3.9 AST on 55.5% from the field. Many C’s fans would have been reminded of Claxton’s value during our NBA Cup loss to the Nets back on the 21st of November. Clax posted his first ever NBA triple double and was a +18 in an eight-point win over the Celtics. If you want a breakdown of that game, check out Lucas Kaplan’s breakdown below. Absolutely worth a watch if you’re looking to become a Clax acolyte:
Pour one out for Anfernee Simons. He’s always going to be involved in fake trades on Celtics sites and this article is no different.
While Neemias Queta has been a brilliant surprise thus far for Boston this season, I cannot help but feel that they are still short in the frontcourt. Claxton possesses a number of the qualities that Boston bigs have exhibited in the past, and he could make for a fun fit next to Tatum in the front court next season. The Brooklyn big man is one of the more mobile bigs in the NBA, and he could fit into a switching scheme that suits Tatum and Brown well. Think 2022 Rob Williams with a little less bulk. I almost view Claxton as an amalgamation of Horford and Williams on the defensive end, albeit not a Frankensteinian mismatch of all their best traits.
Claxton is a good rim protector. Claxton is a good man defender. Claxton is a good passer. He is not an outlier in any one facet of defense, but that ability to play many roles is arguably his greatest strength. I can envision a run through the East where Claxton has to switch out onto the Jalen Brunsons of this world in one round, and battle down low with a Jalen Duren in the next.
On the offensive end, Claxton played the low-usage, high-efficiency rim runner role earlier in his career to great effect. In two seasons flanked by Durant, Harden, and Kyrie, Clax regularly posted seasons touching a true shooting percentage of 70 percent. Claxton’s career year came in 22/23, and that season he recorded 1.7 drives, shot 71 percent from the field, and recorded a BPM of 3.1, largely owing to his titanic impact on the defensive end.
In more recent seasons, Jordi Fernandez has enabled Claxton to drive and act as a handoff hub. In 25/26, Clax’s drives have more than tripled since the 22/23 season. He is recording 5.5 a game. Coupled with a career-best 4 assists per game, you can see that on both sides of the court he can wear different hats depending on team context and matchup.
There is a career deficiency on the glass in comparison with fellow big men, but you would assume that sharing the court with one of Tatum, Walsh, Minott, or even Payton Pritchard, all position plus rebounders, his shortcomings on the glass could be masked.
Overall, there is a compelling case that he could be an asset on both sides of the court. He is a player who doesn’t demand touches but can soak them up if needed. He is a player who does not need a defensive scheme built around him. He is a player whose versatility could port well to the postseason if he is flanked by a talented roster. I can’t help but profile Claxton as Timelord. Rob Williams had a similar playstyle to Claxton back in his C’s days but had a little more ex-factor than our prospective trade target does. A Williams/Walton comparison piece may be lurking in the drafts…
You will notice I do not have any first round picks or even young pieces going back to Barclays in this scenario. Nets fans have all commented in disgust by now, but Brooklyn could have reason to consider a salary dump and second round picks. The Nets currently project to have 44 million dollars in cap space next season, which is good enough for fifth in the Association. To me, Brooklyn feel far enough away from contention that opening up a further 23 million dollars in space, Nic’s salary for 26/27, and repeating this cap-space plan next offseason could be beneficial long term.
At 26 years old, Claxton is in his prime, but the Nets are two years away from being two years away. Even if the franchise views this as a neutral contract, it should be understood that by the time that matters, they would have to sign a Claxton in his late twenties to an extension. The six-year Net vet deserves a chance to compete in a playoff setting, and Brooklyn could gain more assets than the three seconds they have coming their way in this deal by using the additional salary space opened up by a move to get off the Claxton deal. Oh, and Anfernee Simons would be fun under Jordi Fernandez.
I hope I have made a compelling argument for a Claxton trade. Believe me, if he arrived in February, I would be excited for the next 18 months or so, but I do have some doubts around this deal. Versatility is a postseason buzzword, but there is something to be said for special skills. Claxton is so good at so many facets of the game, but I would argue we have not seen him be truly great at any one aspect since 22/23.
The offensive ability to handle and facilitate from the elbows is more valuable to a team like Brooklyn, short on perimeter talent and short on shot creation, than it would be to a stacked Celtics roster in 2026. I expect that in closing lineups we would be watching Clax fulfill a lower-usage role akin to the start of his career, as opposed to making decisions when it matters most.
On the other end of the court, I would worry about the rebounding shortcomings in a league becoming increasingly focused on fighting for second chances off the glass. Is he strong enough to battle down low with true post powerhouses? Are his rim-protection chops at risk of being left behind in an outer-space race that more frequently than ever sees unicorn seven footers manning the paint with wingspans that dwarf the Georgia alumnus?
Claxton would no doubt make for an upgrade to the front court. Despite Neemias’ breakout, he would man the starting spot at a true starter level. However, to me, it feels like the kind of move that limits the Celtics ceiling. His contract is fine, but that is all it will ever be. Given the gluttony of salary on the books, I think that the 20-plus million dollar salary slot would be better spent on a player with a standout quality. Claxton would provide an upgrade over Queta, but he is not ten times the player Q is. It is the kind of move that makes sense on paper. It reads nicely. Instant trade reactions may even feature the words “Nets” and “fleeced” in the headlines.
All that being said, Boston does not want to be good, very good, or really really good. They want to be great. In TD Garden we hang banners, and Claxton ultimately does not fill me with the belief that we would be favorites to hang #19 any time soon.
Let me know your thoughts down below. Is Claxton the man for the five spot, or should Boston keep their powder dry if Sean Marks starts calling?
