Clax-ican (in Dumars/Weaver we trust!)
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2025 3:25 am
Heat send: Rozier + Fontecchio
Heat get: D. Murray + Matkovic + 2nd
Nets send: Claxton
Nets get: Rozier + Hawkins + two 2nds
Pelicans send: D. Murray + Hawkins + Matkovic + three 2nds
Pelicans get: Claxton + Fontecchio
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Heat buy low on a PG that fits Heat culture, intel tells them Murray is set to return to play in December at full recovery and regain form by the playoffs. In the weak East, they can do well enough this season while he plays back into form. They get a flier on Matkovic and a 2nd for taking the long term salary.
*Fontecchio aggregation restriction lifts Sept. 7. Highsmith could replace him in the deal if needed.
Nets clear future cap space and solidify their tank further. They unleash Sharpe as a starter and open development minutes for Clowney, Timmee, and Wolf. They get two 2nds from the Pels and a flier on Hawkins who should thrive playing off their stable of PG rooks. Rozier-- they can waive/ buyout his expiring contract immediately or hold his for potential void of contract if his gambling investigation goes that way.
Pelicans solidify their playoff push by adding a starting level, shotblocking, rim-running upgrade at Center who can excels in the switch defense Coach Green plays. Looney can take the bulk of backup Center minutes, giving a nice plus-rebounding counterbalance to Claxton's skillset. Missi and Queen can develop slowly playing spot minutes while the team leans on win-now vets. They clear up the PG spot for Poole and Fears (and Brogdon who they will sign), while lessening their long term salary. Fontecchio is a flier spacing forward on an expiring deal.
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Arguments against:
1) Murray is injured and out half the season. Teams probably don't want to risk trading for his multi year contract without seeing how he returns to play first. And if so, it may require a 1st or a swap to take him on.
Likewise, seems like Pelicans want to let him return mid season and regain some of his on court and trade value. A Murray trade probably makes more sense as a deadline or next offseason deal. But with Pels incentive to go for playoffs this season, replacing injured Murray with a good playable starter helps them not fall behind early on.
2) Heat may rather keep their long term cap clean unless for more of a star player.
3) Nets could wait out for a better Claxton deal at the deadline or next offseason.
4) Missi may be close enough to Claxton already for the Pelicans? The numbers say Missi was very raw and a low end starter, but maybe with a better, healthy roster he could be near as impactful as Claxton.
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Claxton/ Looney/ Missi
Zion/ Bey/ Queen
Trey/ Fontec/ Peavy
Herb/ Brogdon/ Reeves
Poole/ Jose/ Fears
Ware/ Jovic/ Karlo
Bam/ Jaquez/ Keshad
Wiggins/ Highsmith
Herro/ Norm/ Pelle
Murray/ Davion/ Jaku
Sharpe/ Clowney/ Timme
MPJ/ Wilson/ Wolf
Mann/ Ziaire/ Whitehead
CamT?/ Hawkins/ Powell
Demin/ Traore/ Saraf
Heat get: D. Murray + Matkovic + 2nd
Nets send: Claxton
Nets get: Rozier + Hawkins + two 2nds
Pelicans send: D. Murray + Hawkins + Matkovic + three 2nds
Pelicans get: Claxton + Fontecchio
-------
Heat buy low on a PG that fits Heat culture, intel tells them Murray is set to return to play in December at full recovery and regain form by the playoffs. In the weak East, they can do well enough this season while he plays back into form. They get a flier on Matkovic and a 2nd for taking the long term salary.
*Fontecchio aggregation restriction lifts Sept. 7. Highsmith could replace him in the deal if needed.
Nets clear future cap space and solidify their tank further. They unleash Sharpe as a starter and open development minutes for Clowney, Timmee, and Wolf. They get two 2nds from the Pels and a flier on Hawkins who should thrive playing off their stable of PG rooks. Rozier-- they can waive/ buyout his expiring contract immediately or hold his for potential void of contract if his gambling investigation goes that way.
Pelicans solidify their playoff push by adding a starting level, shotblocking, rim-running upgrade at Center who can excels in the switch defense Coach Green plays. Looney can take the bulk of backup Center minutes, giving a nice plus-rebounding counterbalance to Claxton's skillset. Missi and Queen can develop slowly playing spot minutes while the team leans on win-now vets. They clear up the PG spot for Poole and Fears (and Brogdon who they will sign), while lessening their long term salary. Fontecchio is a flier spacing forward on an expiring deal.
---
Arguments against:
1) Murray is injured and out half the season. Teams probably don't want to risk trading for his multi year contract without seeing how he returns to play first. And if so, it may require a 1st or a swap to take him on.
Likewise, seems like Pelicans want to let him return mid season and regain some of his on court and trade value. A Murray trade probably makes more sense as a deadline or next offseason deal. But with Pels incentive to go for playoffs this season, replacing injured Murray with a good playable starter helps them not fall behind early on.
2) Heat may rather keep their long term cap clean unless for more of a star player.
3) Nets could wait out for a better Claxton deal at the deadline or next offseason.
4) Missi may be close enough to Claxton already for the Pelicans? The numbers say Missi was very raw and a low end starter, but maybe with a better, healthy roster he could be near as impactful as Claxton.
----
Claxton/ Looney/ Missi
Zion/ Bey/ Queen
Trey/ Fontec/ Peavy
Herb/ Brogdon/ Reeves
Poole/ Jose/ Fears
Ware/ Jovic/ Karlo
Bam/ Jaquez/ Keshad
Wiggins/ Highsmith
Herro/ Norm/ Pelle
Murray/ Davion/ Jaku
Sharpe/ Clowney/ Timme
MPJ/ Wilson/ Wolf
Mann/ Ziaire/ Whitehead
CamT?/ Hawkins/ Powell
Demin/ Traore/ Saraf