After spending his greatest NBA years in Brooklyn, Nic Claxton was sent to the Chicago Bulls in a three-team deal.
During his seven seasons with the Nets, Claxton stood entrance and heart of the group’s protection. Be it his rim safety, seamless switching, or capacity to erase errors across the basket, the Georgia alum stood out in all these domains.
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Though the commerce introduced Julius Randle and the No. 28 choose, Joshua Jefferson, to the Nets, the group would discover it one of many greatest challenges to substitute Claxton’s defensive presence going into the 2026-27 season.
However, Brooklyn seems prepared to hand that chance to Day’Ron Sharpe. At least for now.
The Nets signed the 24-year-old on a two-year extension this offseason. He’s anticipated to compete for the beginning heart position after spending most of his profession as a reserve. Sharpe is coming off one of the best offensive season of his NBA profession. He averaged 8.7 factors as he established himself as one of many league’s higher rebounders on a per-minute foundation.
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His offensive recreation additionally seems to be totally different from Claxton’s.
Sharpe has bagged extra perimeter touches and supplies stronger rebounding, two areas the place Brooklyn struggled all through final season. With Randle becoming a member of the frontcourt, the Nets are hoping to enhance scoring and physicality to offset a few of the defensive manufacturing they misplaced.
The query is whether or not Sharpe can deal with the tasks that got here with Claxton’s position on their lonesome.
Unlike Claxton, who routinely logged round half-hour per recreation, Sharpe has by no means performed heavy starter’s minutes. Foul bother and turnovers have often restricted his influence. His rim safety additionally stays largely untested over an prolonged workload.
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To assist ease that transition, Brooklyn added one other veteran choice in free company.
Former Orlando Magic heart Moe Wagner signed a two-year, $19 million deal after recovering from a torn ACL. He averaged 10.5 factors throughout three seasons in Orlando earlier than accidents lower quick his 2025-26 marketing campaign.
He brings expertise as an lively offensive huge who can stretch the ground. Rather than placing the burden on one participant to substitute Claxton outright, the Nets seem ready to divide these tasks.
Sharpe initiatives as the first rebounder and inside presence, whereas Wagner supplies scoring, spacing and frontcourt depth. Together, they provide extra offensive versatility than Claxton, even when neither individually matches his defensive influence.
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That will not be simple to substitute.
Claxton leaves Brooklyn ranked among the many franchise leaders in rebounds and blocks whereas ending first in field-goal proportion in group historical past. Since the Nets moved to Brooklyn in 2012, solely Brook Lopez has arguably had a larger influence at heart.
Chicago considered these defensive instruments as precisely what its younger roster wanted, buying Claxton primarily to handle years of rim-protection points.
On the opposite hand, the Nets imagine enhancing their offense and general roster stability outweighs dropping an elite defender. Whether Sharpe and Wagner can collectively fill the defensive void left by Claxton will go a great distance towards figuring out whether or not that gamble pays off.
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