The Los Angeles Lakers could not be happier about how the Luka Dončić-Anthony Davis trade is panning out.
The Lakers have a record of 13-4, and it is obvious Dončić will be the face of the franchise for many years to come. He is averaging a league-high 35.2 points, 9.2 assists, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.9 steals on 47% shooting and 33.3% shooting from three-point range. With how promising the future in Los Angeles looks, it could be in the front office’s best interest to continue building around the 26-year-old Slovenian superstar.
Lakers Predicted To Acquire Nic Claxton
The Brooklyn Nets (3-14) are in a rebuild.
So, it makes little sense to keep stars like Michael Porter Jr. and Nicolas Claxton around long-term. PFSN’s Noah Rubin predicts the Lakers could trade for Claxton in a major deal with the Nets. The proposed trade details are as follows:
Lakers receive: Nicolas Claxton, Haywood Highsmith, Tyrese Martin
Nets receive: Dalton Knecht, Jarred Vanderbilt, Maxi Kleber, Gabe Vincent, 2026 first-round pick, 2031 first-round pick, 2032 second-round pick
“One of the bright spots in Brooklyn this year has been Nicolas Claxton, who is enjoying arguably the best season of his professional career,” Rubin wrote. “He has flown somewhat under the radar the last few seasons on a rebuilding team, but he was a key complementary piece for the Nets squad that featured Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving a few years ago.”
Claxton is averaging 14.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists on 56% shooting this season. Given how much success Dončić had with Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford on the Dallas Mavericks, it’s safe to assume similar results would be produced in Los Angeles. Claxton is a phenomenal two-way big man who has three seasons remaining on his four-year, $97 million contract.
Rubin continued, “The Lakers have a top-10 offense this year, but their defense hasn’t been as impactful; the addition of Claxton could allow them to be a top-10 team on both sides of the floor, considering his 1.4 blocks per game.”
While Deandre Ayton has been a solid contributor thus far, Claxton is a longer-term, more versatile option for the frontcourt.
