Aside from Kyrie Irving's future with the team, the Brooklyn Nets have another decision to make in free agency: decide on whether or not they want to keep young center Nic Claxton.
According to recent reports, however, the Nets are expected to retain Claxton for the right price.
Claxton is a restricted free agent this 2022, and after a rather up-and-down season, it is unlikely he gets big offers from other teams. As one Eastern Conference GM told Sean Deveney of Heavy, Claxton's projected mid-level offer is something the Nets are more than comfortable matching.
“He is restricted, they can match anything another team gives him. He is looking at something like three years, $35 million,” the unnamed East GM said.
“They are not sold on him as the big guy of the future but at that number, they’d keep him around, and know they can move him in a deal next summer if they have something better in mind. Trouble is, they’ve got a short window here so they can’t wait for him too long. But Sean (Marks) is a believer in development and they are not going to give up on him that fast.”
Nic Claxton averaged 8.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game in 2021-22, slight improvements from his averages in his first two seasons in the NBA. However, with the Nets aiming for the championship, such production won't cut it.
The 23-year-old started in 19 of 47 games he played for the Nets in the past season, and he did show flashes of his immense potential. But for him to cement a significant role in Brooklyn, he needs to show the team that he can impact winning.
Follow Us
Subscribe