Clax-ican (No Ingram)

[YayBasketball]

*Trade occurs after Dec. 15, when Claxton's recently-traded-restriction lifts--
but ideally, well before the Feb. 7 trade deadline-- to give both teams time to find good follow up trades...*

BKN out: Claxton + Milton (or Ziaire W.)
BKN in: McCullom + Missi + NOP '26 1st (top-4 prot.)

NOP out: McCullom + Missi + NOP '26 1st (top-4 prot.)
NOP in: Claxton + Milton (or Ziaire W.)

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Side Note: Ducking the Tax
*This trade with Claxton and Milton outgoing would have BKN 3.9m over the tax, and NOP 3.5m under the tax. With Claxton and Ziaire Williams outgoing, keeps NOP barely under the tax, with BKN just over the tax at 702k over. The easiest way to keep both teams under the tax would to trade Ziaire Williams to a third team well below the tax (UTA, WAS, SAS, etc.) for a min. salary player making 2.0 mil. or less, or just absorb Williams into an empty roster spot with a TPE. Some team may want to take the flyer on him, or BKN can use a 2nd ('25 MIA 31-37 prot.?) to dump the salary. Of course, by that time they may have made other moves to trim salary and stay under the tax another way.

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For the Nets, this is a pure value play, getting another valuable, lightly protected future 1st in a year that they only have their own pick (2026). Also, they get a younger project Center to develop in Missi, who is similar to the raw, mobile Claxton mold of Center. They take on the 2-year, descending contract of McCullom, who they will immediately look to re-trade up until the trade deadline. And if no acceptable deal can be reached, then CJ becomes more easily tradeable next offseason as an expiring contract. He can be a veteran mentor for the full-on tank if he sticks around. *(poetic justice for the president of the Player's Association to be offloaded to a tanking team as a result of the new "Apron CBA" making it difficult for contending teams to make trades? haha).*

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For the Pelicans, they surprise everyone in same way as the Murray trade-- acquiring a core starter at a position of need without trading Ingram to do it. Getting Claxton shores up their Center spot with one of the best switch-defending C's in the league, the key skill Coach Green covets for his scheme. Claxton fits the timeline with the rest of the Pels' core, making them super athletic and versatile for a deep play-off run. This move allows them to approach the trade deadline scanning for Ingram offers for the best deal, without the desperation to trade him for a Center at all costs. This also leverages the possibility of keeping Ingram through the deadline and into the offseason, for his agent to reconsider re-signing at a more reasonable contract number to stay with Pels' team he loves being a part of-- or, opens up sign-and trade possibilites.

*Another version of this trade has Ingram going to a third team (Hornets) with Cam Johnson also going out with Claxton to the Pels, CJ and assets from 3rd team to Nets. But we'll save that for another day...

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Nets rebuilding roster:

Sharpe/ Missi
*CamJ / DFS/ Clowney/ Watford
*Simmons/ Bojan/ JalenW
CamT/ Dariq/ Keon
*CJ / *Schroder

+ extra future 1st
* (trade candidate veterans)

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Pels "contending" young core

Claxton/ Theis/ Karlo
Zion/ JRE
*Ingram/ Murphy/ Ryan
Herb/ Hawkins/ Reeves
Murray/ Jose

[JRoy]

If BKN decides to move Claxton, pretty sure they could get a better deal than this. Maybe BKN could weigh in and let me know how wrong I am.

[Rockazoids]

BKN are not going to trade Claxton for bunch of nothing(Missi 21pk, a late pk & CJ) BKN has 3 late 1st this year coming up they
don't need any more late pick.

[jbk1234]

Apparently I'm in the minority, but I think Claxton on his new contract isn't some super valuable asset. There are a lot of people high on Missi, the Pelicans always hover between a play-in team or bottom seed, and next year's FA class sucks now so CJ's extra year doesn't really hurt. I like this trade for the Nets.

[brackdan70]

Brings up a good question on Claxton value. 25 year old solid defensive center that can switch. Walking double double. I think his ceiling is not a lot higher though…can he become an outside shooter?

Looking at this trade I think it’s close, assuming they could get some value for McCollum. Missi has a ceiling well below Claxton floor at this point imo. I don’t think he adds a lot. In a tough west that 2026 NOP pick is likely in the teens? Not bad.

[mademan]

If BKN decides to move Claxton, pretty sure they could get a better deal than this. Maybe BKN could weigh in and let me know how wrong I am.

Doubt it. C isnt a big market. BRK may decide to not move him, but if they did, i think the OP value is more than reasonable

[JKiddy]

If BKN decides to move Claxton, pretty sure they could get a better deal than this. Maybe BKN could weigh in and let me know how wrong I am.

I agree wholeheartedly. BK could get much more than this if they wanted to trade Claxton (which they don't).

[gswhoops]

Brings up a good question on Claxton value. 25 year old solid defensive center that can switch. Walking double double. I think his ceiling is not a lot higher though…can he become an outside shooter?

Looking at this trade I think it’s close, assuming they could get some value for McCollum. Missi has a ceiling well below Claxton floor at this point imo. I don’t think he adds a lot. In a tough west that 2026 NOP pick is likely in the teens? Not bad.

Claxton is 3/19 career from three and shoots 55% on FTs. I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for him to become an outside shooter.

[brackdan70]

Brings up a good question on Claxton value. 25 year old solid defensive center that can switch. Walking double double. I think his ceiling is not a lot higher though…can he become an outside shooter?

Looking at this trade I think it’s close, assuming they could get some value for McCollum. Missi has a ceiling well below Claxton floor at this point imo. I don’t think he adds a lot. In a tough west that 2026 NOP pick is likely in the teens? Not bad.

Claxton is 3/19 career from three and shoots 55% on FTs. I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for him to become an outside shooter.

Yeah that was my point. He is at or near his ceiling, unless he can develop better shooting. He doesn’t have it currently.

[HadAnEffectHere]

Yeah, this seems basically right on value, I like this one.

[gswhoops]

Brings up a good question on Claxton value. 25 year old solid defensive center that can switch. Walking double double. I think his ceiling is not a lot higher though…can he become an outside shooter?

Looking at this trade I think it’s close, assuming they could get some value for McCollum. Missi has a ceiling well below Claxton floor at this point imo. I don’t think he adds a lot. In a tough west that 2026 NOP pick is likely in the teens? Not bad.

Claxton is 3/19 career from three and shoots 55% on FTs. I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for him to become an outside shooter.

Yeah that was my point. He is at or near his ceiling, unless he can develop better shooting. He doesn’t have it currently.

Ah gotcha, then I just misread your post. Anyway, I agree.

It's an interesting conundrum. How much is a good (but not great) young defensive center on a fair (but not undermarket) contract worth?

[YayBasketball]

Yeah, this seems basically right on value, I like this one.

Thanks for the replies and helpful feedback. Interesting that we have a mixed bag of "not enough" and "pretty close on value."

This was an attempt for something different than the overplayed Ingram deals. Griffin completely surprised everyone by getting Murray without including Ingram (or CJ). Everyone is now assuming they must trade Ingram for a Center, but can Griffin surprise us again by getting that Center with a McCullom + trade? I could definitely see it.

Claxton, athletic and switchable, but also gets bodied inside with his thin frame and doesn't shoot 3s and is bad at FT's. Missi seems like the same level prospect at Claxton was entering the league, so it's kind of a timeline realignment for both teams. Would be cleaner to automatically find a 3rd team for CJ, and that may become clearer in a few months. But just like the Blazers did acquiring Holiday knowing they could re-trade him, seems reasonable BKN could take the same approach with McCullom with 1.5 years left on his contract.

[YayBasketball]

If BKN decides to move Claxton, pretty sure they could get a better deal than this. Maybe BKN could weigh in and let me know how wrong I am.

Have a team and example trade that beats this offer?

[YayBasketball]

BKN are not going to trade Claxton for bunch of nothing(Missi 21pk, a late pk & CJ) BKN has 3 late 1st this year coming up they
don't need any more late pick.

Claxton was a 2nd round pick, about the same level of prospect as Missi. How likely is it that Missi could develop into a Claxton level player in 3 years when Nets move into their competing stage?

And like someone else pointed out, a future 2026 1st, only top-4 protected from the Pelicans is not automatically a late pick. It can be a pretty high-variance pick when considering Zion's injury history. And yes, BKN may have 3 firsts for 2025, they only have their own 1st in 2026. Giving them added flexibility for trades or moving up in the draft that year.

What would you see as a realistic trade for Claxton if he becomes available?

[YayBasketball]

If BKN decides to move Claxton, pretty sure they could get a better deal than this. Maybe BKN could weigh in and let me know how wrong I am.

I agree wholeheartedly. BK could get much more than this if they wanted to trade Claxton (which they don't).

Do you have an example team and trade offer they would get that's better than OP?

[YayBasketball]

Brings up a good question on Claxton value. 25 year old solid defensive center that can switch. Walking double double. I think his ceiling is not a lot higher though…can he become an outside shooter?

Looking at this trade I think it’s close, assuming they could get some value for McCollum. Missi has a ceiling well below Claxton floor at this point imo. I don’t think he adds a lot. In a tough west that 2026 NOP pick is likely in the teens? Not bad.

Can you expand on the Missi ceiling well below Claxton's floor part? Seeing as Claxton was a 31st pick, we'll readjust Missi's 21st draft range a bit since his was a weak draft. What limits Missi's ceiling? Claxton's bigger wingspan and more fluid movement? Missi's starting basketball later in life?

[JKiddy]

Has anyone here watched Claxton play every game in a season or even just a few dozen games?

[esvl]

Clax is a top defensive centre in this league. The Nets should make him available for overpayment type of offers only.

[BK_2020]

Clax is a top defensive centre in this league. The Nets should make him available for overpayment type of offers only.

If Claxton is a top defensive center in the league why were the Nets so bad on defense? They supposedly had a top defensive wing in this league (Bridges) and two top 3&D wings (DFS & Royce O'Neal). They were the 20th best defense in the league.

[BlazersBroncos]

I think this is off by another FRP from NO - partly because BRK is taking on CJ here.