Qualifications needed to be the Lakers’ starting center next year are crystal clear.
Can you catch lobs, protect the rim, and switch on the perimeter? Everything else is gravy.
The name on the market closest to servicing all those needs is Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton. The 6’11” long, rangy athlete just finished his sixth campaign in the league, all with the Nets. Last season, Claxton averaged 10.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 26.9 minutes per game.
The best ability is availability and Claxton has displayed real durability over the last few years. He’s played at least 70 games in each of the previous three seasons.
LA sorely missed a defensive presence last year after trading away Anthony Davis, relying on Jaxson Hayes for large stretches of the season in that role or placing the burden on 40-year-old LeBron James and forward Rui Hachimura.
Claxton is a monster in the interior defensively. With a wingspan of 7’3”, it all starts with his rim protection. He’s excellent as a weak-side help defender, erasing shots and drives as shown in the clip below.
He can block shots with either hand and reaches floaters at their apex. He combines the wingspan with a quick twitch and a second jump. He recorded a block percentage of 5.3%, ranking seventh among all centers that played a minimum of 20 minutes per game.
In addition to the blocks, what makes Claxton unique is his ability to switch on the perimeter. He’s got quick feet and can stay with on-ball creators by sliding his feet and leveraging his length.
Watch below as he’s matched up with Giannis Antetokounmpo on the perimeter, absorbing the spin move and getting the stop at the basket.
Claxton's main weakness is evident when he faces bigger centers, given that he weighs 220 pounds, which is light for a five in the NBA. Some opposing bigs can overpower him at the rim. Post-ups against larger players can also cause problems, as they can push him under the basket.
Watch below as Drew Eubanks, listed at 245 pounds, manages to gain an advantage and neutralize his length, finishing over the top.
On the offensive end, Claxton provides exactly what the Lakers need: a highly productive pick-and-roll center that offers the vertical spacing essential for effective on-ball creators. He screens and rolls with the best in the league and has a wide catch radius.
Watch below as he points for the lob instantly once his defender comes over to protect the rim.
Claxton even flashed some ball handling, able to take slower-footed bigs off the bounce full court in transition in the half court, getting to the rim with simple crossovers like the one below.
On shots inside the restricted area, Claxton finished with an efficient 70.2%, ranking 11th among all centers who attempted at least two per game. His offensive struggles come everywhere else.
With shots inside, not including dunks and layups, he shot just 37%. Claxton very rarely ever attempted shots outside the paint. He also made just 51% of his free throws last season, the second-lowest percentage of his career.
Even with that being the case, adding a 26-year-old high-level lob threat and rim protector with some playoff experience would be incredibly valuable. Finding productive bigs under 30 who are locked into good contracts is not easy.
The center market is a tough place to find good value, as shown by the recent acquisition of Mark Williams by the Phoenix Suns, netting two late first round picks.
The Lakers and Nets just made a deal last season involving Dorian Finney-Smith, and if they can once again come to terms, LA can be confident in their starting center for next season.
You can follow Raj on Twitter at@RajChipalu.