Brooklyn Nets: 3 reasons Nicolas Claxton was a good pick
1. Fills a need
The Brooklyn Nets needed to add a big man to their roster during the draft. Jarrett Allen is currently their only center/power forward under contract, and they need options to replace impending free agent, Ed Davis’ minutes.
As a rookie, Claxton should be able to play a similar role to what Davis did for Brooklyn in 2018-19. Davis was an energy big off the bench that provided athleticism and highlights in spark minutes.
In fact, CBS Sports went as far as to compare Claxton to Ed Davis in their draft profile on the Georgia center.
Nic Claxton has a nonstop motor and despite his slender frame, loves doing the dirty work inside. The former four-star recruit is particularly proficient on the defensive glass and recorded 202 defensive rebounds last year. That trailed only Alabama’s Donta Hall, who tallied 206 defensive boards, but also played in two more games than Claxton.
With the Nets star chasing in free agency, it was imperative that they draft a frontcourt player who could contribute next season. Claxton should be just that.
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With another quality center in the fold, the Brooklyn Nets can turn the focus onto Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, Al Horford and any other max free agents they’d like to pursue.