An NBA team needs one of two things: flexibility, or talent. If you’ve got enough talent to win a title, you don’t need flexibility. Otherwise, you need the flexibility to go acquire that talent.
The Los Angeles Clippers don’t have much flexibility. They do have plenty of talent. Injuries have held this team back, but make no mistake – the Clippers have enough talent to win an NBA title. If they could all get healthy at the same time, the Clippers would be serious title contenders.
We can’t say the same for the Brooklyn Nets. They’ve got talent, but they don’t have enough to win it all. Fortunately, the Nets have a lot of flexibility. This team is stacked with future first-round picks. Could they increase their flexibility by sending Nicolas Claxton to the Clippers?
The Trade Proposal
Brooklyn Nets Receive: C Ivica Zubac, 2028 First-Round Pick (LAC), 2029 First-Round Pick (Swap – LAC)
Los Angeles Clippers Receive: C Nic Claxton
With that said, the Nets don’t have perfect flexibility. This team can take a lot of different routes. They have enough draft capital to trade for a star, and rebuilding is an option too. Still, one route is not available to the Nets: tanking.
The Nets traded all of their own first-round picks, whether outright or via swaps, to the Houston Rockets through to 2027. It was an entirely defensible decision. The Nets traded that draft capital in order to acquire James Harden. At the time, they had enough talent to win an NBA championship.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Nic Claxton, Brooklyn Nets & Los Angeles Clippers Updates
That’s the NBA’s life cycle. Some have expected the Clippers to complete the cycle this summer. To be sure, they could justify trading Kawhi Leonard and Paul George for as much draft capital as they can find. Could they take the opposite route by making a win-now move?
Why The Los Angeles Clippers Do The Deal
Let’s talk about the Clippers’ team concept. This group is stacked with 3-and-D wings. Since their two star players have 3-and-D abilities, the Clippers can have several such players on the floor at all times. As a result, they can employ aggressive, switch-heavy defensive schemes.
To an extent, that is. Zubac is a high-quality rim protector, but he’s not great when defending in space. In other words, this deal helps the Clippers complete their team concept. Claxton is one of the most versatile defensive bigs in the NBA. Following this deal, the Clippers could assemble the most dominant defense in the NBA.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Nic Claxton, Brooklyn Nets & Los Angeles Clippers Updates
Are they paying a lot to do so? Absolutely. The Clippers lost a first-round pick and a swap here aside from Zubac. Still, if they want to make a play for the NBA title, acquiring Claxton would solidify their odds. Should the Nets really give Claxton up?
Why The Brooklyn Nets Do The Deal
This is a downgrade for the Nets. There’s no disputing that. Zubac is solid, but he’s not as good as Claxton. That’s fine. Claxton is due to hit free agency next summer. In all likelihood, he’s going to be paid accordingly.
He’ll make more than Zubac. A lot more. The Nets should expect Claxton to net north of $20 million per season on the open market. They could pay him, but they’ll be committing to mediocrity. Once again, this roster is not built to win an NBA championship.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Nic Claxton, Brooklyn Nets & Los Angeles Clippers Updates
So, the Nets would have to at least consider moving the big man. Here, they’re adding to what’s already one of the best collections of draft capital in the NBA. In time, the Nets could use those picks to trade for a superstar. In other words, they do this deal to increase their flexibility.
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