Nic Claxton’s run in Brooklyn ended the way so many meaningful stretches do: with gratitude, a little sadness, and a clear sense that both sides were ready for the next chapter.
After seven seasons with the Nets, Claxton is now headed to the Chicago Bulls as part of the Julius Randle deal, closing the book on a stay that began with him as a second-round pick and ended with him as one of Brooklyn’s most reliable defensive pieces. On Saturday, he thanked Nets fans on X and made it plain how much the city meant to him.
"These past seven years have been an amazing ride," Claxton wrote. "I appreciate the Nets organization and fans for believing in me. I felt the love and support from day 1."
Claxton’s development in Brooklyn was one of the steadier success stories on the roster. He spent three limited seasons working his way into a larger role before becoming the team’s full-time starting center, and over time he established himself as one of the NBA’s more dependable rim protectors. Last season, he put up 11.7 points, seven rebounds and 3.7 assists while adding 1.1 blocks per game.
But the numbers have trended down since he signed a four-year, $97 million extension in 2024. In the two seasons before that deal, Claxton posted better marks in points, rebounds and blocks, and his best shooting season came in 2022-2023, when he hit the field at nearly 14 percentage points better than he has since.
The offensive limitations have remained part of the package. In a league where big men are increasingly expected to stretch the floor, Claxton never found a 3-point shot or much of an in-between game. Over seven seasons, he has shot 19-percent from beyond the arc, making 11 of 58 attempts.
Even so, he outperformed the expectations that come with being a second-round pick and gave Brooklyn real stability on the defensive end and on the glass.
"Through the ups and downs, this city watched me grow into a man," Claxton wrote. "I will always cherish my time spent there. I created so many beautiful memories and friendships that will last a lifetime."
In Chicago, he steps into a situation where he has a strong chance to sit at the top of the center depth chart. The Bulls also have young frontcourt pieces in Matas Buzelis and this year’s No. 4 overall pick Caleb Wilson, and Claxton is expected to bring veteran leadership to that group.
Back in Brooklyn, the move opens the door for Day'Ron Sharpe, whom the front office has trusted to take on a larger role. Sharpe is projected to be the full-time starter inside, a major jump for a player who has started just 21 games in his first five seasons with the Nets.
Claxton closed his message with one more goodbye to the fan base that watched him grow up in real time.
"I will be forever grateful I was able to call Brooklyn home," Claxton wrote. "With all that being said, it was time to move on.
Thanks again for rocking with me. I will see y'all again."
In Other News...
Sean Marks Just Sent Nets Fans A Familiar Message
Brooklyns rebuild is still being guided by the same basic idea Sean Marks has leaned on for years: stay patient, keep the books clean and preserve the freedom to strike when the right move appears. While other teams around the league continue to reshape their rosters, the Nets are choosing not to force the issue, even as the market keeps moving around them.
That approach leaves Brooklyn in a rare spot, with the kind of cap room that can be used to take on contracts or slide into future trade talks when the timing makes sense. It is not the loudest path, and it does not always satisfy a fan base looking for immediate movement, but it does suggest the Nets are still positioning themselves to be involved when the next opportunity opens up. [Read more 🡒]
Nets May Have One Rare Shot To Fix Their Biggest Problem
Brooklyns search for help in the middle has been one of the clearest roster questions hanging over the offseason, and the market may have offered a rare opening. After moving off Nic Claxton, the Nets are left with DayRon Sharpe and Moritz Wagner in the center rotation, a setup that leaves plenty of room for a bigger swing if the right opportunity surfaces.
Detroit, meanwhile, has kept its focus on re-signing Jalen Duren even after adding John Collins, Isaiah Joe, Gary Harris Jr. and Taurean Prince. The Pistons have not exactly acted like a team eager to create more noise around the situation, but Brooklyn could still test that resolve if it believes Duren is the kind of long-term answer that changes the shape of its frontcourt. [Read more 🡒]
Nets May Have Just Found The Exact Wing This Rebuild Needed
Josh Minotts first stretch with the Nets came with a built-in excuse, but also a glimpse of why Brooklyn was intrigued in the first place. Acquired from the Celtics, the wing flashed the kind of defensive instincts and shooting touch that can matter on a rebuilding roster, even as a nagging ankle issue made his early games harder to judge than most.
Brooklyn liked enough of what it saw to bring him back on a two-year deal, a sign the front office believes there is still real upside once he gets a normal offseason. General manager Sean Marks has been encouraged by the possibility of what Minott can look like at full strength, and for a team hunting long-term answers on the wing, that kind of bet can be worth making. [Read more 🡒]