After an early playoff exit, the Los Angeles Lakers are in pursuit of a vital center, with Nic Claxton and Daniel Gafford emerging as a potential trade target. On Thursday, Lakers insider Jovan Buha delved into the realistic options the team could pursue to support offensive stars like Luka Doncic.
Buha, in his podcast “Buha’s Block,” cited Claxton as the top trade target the Lakers should pursue this offseason. He highlighted the potential fit between the Brooklyn Nets’ center and Los Angeles’ core.
“That is the guy [Claxton] that I think should be at the top of the Lakers’ list. That’s probably for me the best among the realistic targets,” Buha said.“…I think he would fit with Luka in the pick and roll. Defensively, he is among the most versatile centers in the league. He can switch out onto the perimeter. He could also protect the rim.”
“He’s an underrated post defender despite his slight frame.”
Nic Claxton has a $97 million, four-year contract with the Nets. He averaged 10.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists in six seasons.
Buha also explored the possibility of the Lakers targeting Gafford. However, he deemed the scenario highly unlikely given the Mavericks’ controversial trade with the Lakers involving Doncic and Anthony Davis.
Finally, the insider touched on centers entering free agency, but most options are past their prime. He did mention the Utah Jazz’s Walker Kessler and Detroit Pistons’ Jalen Duren, but expressed low expectations of landing with the Lakers due to their significant value on their teams.
Given Nic Claxton’s value, whether the Lakers would consider the Nets’ deals in return is still uncertain. However, they could weigh up Claxton’s case if Brooklyn acquires another young star via trade or the draft.
NBA Insider proposes blockbuster trade scenario involving Nic Claxton and three teams
On Thursday, ClutchPoints insider Brett Siegel proposed a mock trade speculation to send Nic Claxton to the LA Lakers in exchange for Rui Hachimura. Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets will receive many draft picks.
The trade proposal involve:
Detroit Pistons will receive:
- Rui Hachimura
The Los Angeles Lakers will receive:
- Nic Claxton
And the Brooklyn Nets will receive:
- Maxi Kleber
- Simone Fontecchio
- Paul Reed (via sign-and-trade with the Pistons)
- 2028 first-round pick (either from Pistons or Lakers)
- 2031 first-round pick (from Lakers, Top 5 protected)
- 2027 second-round pick (from Milwaukee via Detroit)
- 2027 second-round pick (from Pistons)
The Nets, undergoing a massive rebuild, could greatly benefit from four future draft picks. Meanwhile, the Lakers can transform Nic Claxton into a reliable center. However, they’ll lose Hachimura, a vital part of their lineup in the past seasons.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
