Good, Better, Best: 3 centers the Raptors have been linked to
By Mike Luciano
Better: Nicolas Claxton
The same piece that linked Toronto to Nurkic also had them going after Claxton, a former second-round pick averaging 9.1 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Given his style of play, he might be a better fit on this Raptors roster, as Ujiri and Nick Nurse value mobility and versatility in their big men.
Claxton can defend four positions on the floor, as his quick footwork paired with a frame gradually getting more muscular helps make him one of the few above-average defenders the Nets have at their disposal. It doesn’t take the most observant Raptors fan in the world to see where the Georgia product would fit on this roster.
Toronto Raptors rumors: Nicolas Claxton is a perfect switchable big.
Claxton is not a shooter at this moment in time, though Nick Nurse will try to get him in the same shooting boot camp that he put Boucher and Scottie Barnes in over the last few years.
Claxton is also due for an extension soon, and that could complicate things for a Raptors team that needs to lock up Barnes, Fred VanVleet, and Gary Trent Jr. beyond 2023.
While he might not provide as much in terms of immediate returns when compared to some of the more experienced players in the rumor mill, Claxton very much fits the profile of players that this organization values. Will the Nets be a motivated seller?