LAS VEGAS — Because the Nets pivot away from stars and right into a rebuilding course of, getting again to discovering and growing homegrown expertise might be much more vital.
That’s why holding on to Nic Claxton this summer time wasn’t simply vital, however important.
The Nets are doubling down on Claxton, 25, being not only a key starter, however a possible award-winner.
No stress there.
“I imply, he was our precedence this summer time,” new coach Jordi Fernandez stated. “He’s a giant a part of what we’re attempting to do, clearly age-wise and the way he’s progressed all these years.
“And we — me personally, and the group — imagine that he’s nonetheless getting significantly better. [He can win] Defensive Participant of the 12 months. He’s an excellent playmaker, he might be even a greater playmaker. We’re enthusiastic about his improvement. We’re excited that he’s a part of the group for a very long time.”
Arguably vying with Isaiah Hartenstein as the highest middle on the unrestricted free-agent market, Claxton watched the ex-Knick get a three-year, $87 million pact with the Thunder.
However Claxton signed on to be a part of Brooklyn’s rebuild, inking a four-year, $97 million deal that paid him $10 million greater than his former in-city rival.
“Essential. I give Nic a heck of numerous credit score for seeing the following steps he’s taken year-by-year along with his sport,” basic supervisor Sean Marks stated. “It’s nice to discover a man in faculty, and I give our draft course of numerous credit score. [Senior director of college scouting and player evaluation] BJ Johnson has run that for the previous couple of years, did a heck of a job in evaluating and discovering Nic and having the ability to draft Nic the place we did.
“And now maintain him over the course of those final couple of years’ improvement that not solely Nic has participated in however with our teaching employees. So it’s nice to have homegrown expertise right here. Nic suits in a spread [of] completely different pathways we need to go. He’s younger, he’s nonetheless scratching the floor right here, and I simply love his general method to him wanting increasingly more and extra improvement. So now, with a few of the modifications to our roster, I feel we’ll see much more from Nic as we transfer ahead.”
After drafting Claxton within the second spherical in 2019, the Nets noticed him common 11.8 factors, a career-high 9.9 rebounds, 2.1 blocks and a couple of.1 assists final season.
They’ll want much more subsequent season with Mikal Bridges gone and the rebuild on.
Shot-blocking Noah Clowney earned extra taking part in time alongside Claxton down the stretch final season, offering an athletic rim-protecting companion.
“That’s nice. We wish Clax again,” Clowney stated. “I feel us on the court docket collectively, we’ve proven that we will do some bit, and we’ve room to enhance and be actually good collectively. So I used to be excited to see him signal.”
Philadelphia’s re-signing KJ Martin means he can’t be dealt till Jan. 15. He’d been linked as a doable sign-and-trade candidate for Dorian Finney-Smith.
