With the Los Angeles Lakers looking for a center upgrade in the offseason, one name has been floated as a potential trade candidate — Nic Claxton of the Brooklyn Nets.
Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz proposed a trade that would send Claxton to the Lakers to become Luka Dončić’s lob partner and, at the same time, provide rim protection.
Swartz’s trade proposal:
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: C Nic Claxton
Brooklyn Nets Receive: SG Dalton Knecht, F Rui Hachimura, 2025 second-round pick
“Claxton, 26, would be a big upgrade over Hayes. He’s a potential defensive anchor who blocked 1.4 shots per game and held opponents to a solid 58.7 percent shooting at the rim this season to go along with 10.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game,” Swartz wrote.
The 26-year-old Claxton fits the Lakers’ timeline with Dončić, the new face of their franchise and is a major upgrade from Jaxson Hayes, who will enter unrestricted free agency after this season.
Claxton will enter the second season of a descending four-year, $97 million deal. He is due for $25.3 million next season and it decreases by $2 million as the salary cap increases, making it one of the best value contracts.
Nets Might Ask for Lakers’ Remaining Draft Capital
The Lakers and the Nets have been recently involved in a trade this season, centering on Dorian Finney-Smith. There would be no problem going back to the negotiating table again if the Lakers pinpoint Claxton as their long-term answer at center.
While Knecht could be a nice rebuilding piece for the Nets, Swartz’s proposal, though, did not include the Lakers’ 2031 first-round pick, which they offered in the rescinded Mark Williams trade.
The Nets will certainly ask for it as the starting point of a potential Claxton trade.
The 6-foot-11 Claxton’s numbers dipped this season — 10.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.4 blocks — as the Nets tanked for the draft lottery. But he was at his best when he played alongside two future NBA Hall of Famers Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
In their final season together in 2022-23, Claxton averaged 12.6 points, 9.2 rebounds and a career-high 2.5 blocks per game. He also shot a career-best 70.5% from the field, feasting on lobs from the Nets’ former stars.
Playing with Dončić, Austin Reaves and presumably LeBron James, who has a player option for next season, will undoubtedly revitalize Claxton if the Lakers trade for him.
Cheaper Center Options Available for Lakers
The Lakers will have plenty of cheaper centers available in the free agent market, which include Atlanta’s Clint Capela, Minnesota’s Naz Reid (player option), Milwaukee’s Brook Lopez, Indiana’s Myles Turner and champion centers Al Horford of Boston and Golden State’s Kevon Looney.
Turner is the obvious top choice, but the Lakers do not have the cap room unless James declines his $52.6 million player option and signs elsewhere which is unlikely happening.
A sign-and-trade with Turner is possible, but the Lakers need to give up rotation players to match salaries, and besides, they only have their 2031 first-round selection and two pick swaps to potentially offer Indiana.
But Rob Pelinka pulled off the Dončić trade and nearly traded for Williams, anything is possible for the Lakers.
