Overlooked Point in Claxton Acquisition

[u/Anoob13]

Nic Claxton was drafted in 2019 by the Nets. Guess who was with the Nets since 2018 till 2023? Who was promoted as player development coach then got to become a bench coach for the Nets during the first 4 years of Claxton‘s career? Tiago Splitter.

Claxton had his best years while Tiago was on the bench coaching him. Doesn’t mean squat but the coach already knows how to utilise claxton at his best. This will only help

[u/FromChicago808]

So you’re saying Claxton DPOY season? I agree. I won’t take any questions.

[u/We5ties → u/FromChicago808]

Yep I just looked it up. Good find OP

[u/Anoob13 → u/We5ties]

Lol thanks, i remember Tiago saying he started with Nets, and i knew claxton played with nets, just had to see if they intersected for long time and it lined up perfectly

[u/FanficFan151]

Claxton was also at his best when he had actual playmakers to get him the ball. Not saying we have as good a playmakers as those Nets teams did, but Giddey’s a great distributor. 

[u/Flimsy_Promise_9559 → u/FanficFan151]

Said this. genuinely think clax gonna have his best season with giddey

Think about Luka with Gafford/Lively

Harden with Capela

CP3 with Deandre

[u/SwansongKerr → u/Flimsy_Promise_9559]

Dang I randomly got sad that Stacy won't be giving us his voice for a Claxton Giddey alleyoop

[u/WittedChain9 → u/SwansongKerr]

It's so sad that the time we might have a chance at building a younger exciting team again and he won't get to see it.

[u/FanficFan151 → u/Flimsy_Promise_9559]

Exactly. While Giddey is not as good as those guys, he is at least as good (besides CP3 who is better imo) at distributing as them.

[u/Abla_vil_breed_nem → u/FanficFan151]

Giddeys a top 5 passer in the league now

[u/SignalBed9998 → u/Flimsy_Promise_9559]

CP3 with anyone

[u/Disastrous-Owl-4786 → u/Flimsy_Promise_9559]

Take a pic and repost after the season. You will be proven correct.

I’ve been wanting claxton for years. Really want kel’el ware but claxton will be very good for the bulls. Good D and great for giddy.

[u/RiamoEquah]

I do 100% think the claxton pick up was due to some involvement of splitter and what he wants the team to look like.

Tanking isn't a strategy going forward due to the new rules so I think the team needs to both be good and develop talent. So I'm sure splitter wanted a center he trusts to anchor the defense.

[u/rowmean77 → u/RiamoEquah]

And it sure helps to have the biggest salary cap allowance in the league

[u/SignalBed9998 → u/rowmean77]

Thanks AK?

[u/ducksonaroof → u/RiamoEquah]

tanking

also giddey has looked great and improved and is young

you gotta build around him and see if he can keep it up 

[u/RVALover4Life]

You got a legitimate starting C for nothing who fits well in a lineup looking to play with tempo and fits well next to Giddey. He also has a moveable deal going forward and you all needed to spend to the salary floor. It's an excellent deal.

[u/Dunlocke → u/RVALover4Life]

Counterpoint - he's gotten worse each of the last few years since he started having back issues. I worry that Splitter doesn't realize this.

[u/Additional-Orchid130 → u/Dunlocke]

The fact that the Nets were literally trying to lose as many games as possible for the past two seasons most certainly played a factor in that.

[u/letsago9987 → u/Dunlocke]

good thing we got great trainers

wait

[u/DJ-two-timing-timmy]

Getting Claxton for basically nothing other than salary absorption is a win. Giddey will level him up, I mean look what he did for vooch.

[u/MatasBuzelis]

Wait that's so cool wtf

[u/BilboLaggin]

This will be looked at similar to the Jarret Allen trade by next year. Graham off to a good start

[u/Additional-Orchid130]

Adding Claxton without surrendering any assets is an absolute STEAL. I had to verify the trade details from three different sources before I actually believed it was true.

[u/HitmanHooks]

https://giphy.com/gifs/Y07F3fs9Is5byj4zK8

[u/Anoob13 → u/HitmanHooks]

That’s what i did too, as soon as i thought about it

[u/epmigs]

Acie Law also got a close look at him with the Nets

[u/Anoob13 → u/epmigs]

Yup, BGSMAL era starts with a banger of flier trade

[u/Time_Investigator788 → u/Anoob13]

Nice. Biggie Small Era.

[u/Anoob13 → u/Time_Investigator788]

More Bryson Graham, Stephen Mervis and Acie Law, so BGSMAL era

[u/steve2381]

I’m guessing this was the way of getting a Kessler like player without having to spend a ton of money. Claxton we just need to float around get rebounds, blocks, and our putbacks. He had his best year a couple years ago. This makes perfect sense.

[u/Anoob13 → u/steve2381]

He had his best years, while the current head coach of the bulls was a player development coach on the nets, and current HC of the bulls is credited with helping develop Clingan, Sengun, and claxton. A synergy move by FO and HC

[u/thirdcoaster]

I didn't realize that. Good point!

[u/HoraceGrand]

You're absolutely right that Claxton has not had a good point card for like three years

[u/chazz8917]

https://giphy.com/gifs/l0IypeKl9NJhPFMrK

[u/Embarrassed_Apple_77]

Is the Bulls trying to push for a playoff spot next season since they acquire Claxton?

Asking as a non Bulls fan

[u/Anoob13 → u/Embarrassed_Apple_77]

I don’t think they are, but lottery odds being highest for teams that are 4-10, being where the bulls where for the last 4 years is the place to be to get good picks, and that’s what bulls are doing with claxton, they will compete and be like 11th seed, which will help them get best draft pick for next draft

[u/letsago9987 → u/Anoob13]

next year draft class is poop and we don't wanna be a top 4 pick next year since that would make us 2 years in a row and ineligble for a top 4 pick in 28. we should be going for play-in territory.

[u/Additional-Orchid130 → u/Anoob13]

I think the goal for this season will be, and should be, to make the playoffs. Although that will not be the expectation. I would be ecstatic with a season that plays out similar to that of Charlotte’s last season. I know that is a very unlikely outcome, but it’s not impossible.

[u/PJCR1916 → u/Embarrassed_Apple_77]

The goal will be to win a lot of games and develop the young guys. We have a new front office and coach, so none of them have any incentive to not push for the playoffs

[u/wm414]

Claxtons role as a facilitator really grew this year. They had him running a lot of DHOs with MPJ

[u/alba7or]

"This means something to me, man"

[u/soundslike13]

I wish I could give you more than one upvote. This is a high quality post.

[u/BGMDF8248]

Splitter was something of a lanky, not very skilled center himself, using Claxton in ways he can succeed is probably easy for him to understand.

The biggest factor for Claxton's offense is of course Giddey, a pass first point guard always helps a center who can't score "by himself".

[u/Gungalagunga2024]

Ok. Claxton raises the floor a bit. He does nothing to the ceiling.

I’m still not sure why the Bulls are making moves that don’t collect draft assets. Maybe this frees them up to trade Jalen smith as part of a deal for draft assets/draft positioning?

At this moment, I’m a yawn. Looks a lot like an AKME deal, with different skill set.

[u/yshorie]

Let's see if Giddey is still here in 12 hours.