NBA Trade Proposal Sends Nets’ Nicolas Claxton To Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers need a center for Luka Doncic and LeBron James and one NBA analyst is proposing that the purple and gold trade for Brooklyn Nets big man Nicolas Claxton.

Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report proposed that the Lakers trade Rui Hachimura, Maxi Kleber, a 2028 first-round pick swap and a 2031 first-round pick to the Nets for Claxton.

“The Lakers adding a starting-caliber center might be the single most obvious move on the board for this summer. And because L.A. didn’t have to pay anywhere near Luka’s full value to acquire him, they have plenty of trade fodder to land a big man,” Bailey wrote. “This one sends the Nets salary-matching contracts, including one (Hachimura’s) that could be flipped to a contender for more assets, a first-round pick swap and a first-round pick. That’s solid value for a 26-year-old center who’s struggled to produce at the same level he did when he was surrounded by stars.

“With the Lakers, Claxton could get back to the volume of rim-running and rim-protecting he did in 2022-23, when he averaged 12.6 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.5 blocks, shot a league-leading 70.5 percent from the field and finished top-10 in Defensive Player of the Year voting.”

The Lakers lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of this year’s playoffs in five games. They haven’t gotten back to the NBA Finals since winning the 2020 championship against the Miami Heat in six games at the Walt Disney World bubble. 

Claxton appeared in 70 games for the Nets this season. He averaged 10.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.4 blocks while shooting 56.3% from the floor and 51.3% from the foul line. 

If Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka trades for Claxton, Los Angeles head coach JJ Redick can start Doncic, Austin Reaves, Dorian Finney-Smith, James and Claxton next season. 

Claxton, 26, has career averages of 10.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.7 blocks in 311 games with the Nets. He will make $25,352,272 next season.