The Los Angeles Lakers are all about keeping their recently acquired superstar Luka Doncic happy at all times.
The franchise unquestionably succeeded in doing so during the offseason, bringing Deandre Ayton (a legitimate starting center) and Marcus Smart (an elite point-of-attack defender that Doncic recruited to Los Angeles) on board.
Before the Feb. 5 trade deadline passes, Dallas Hoop Journal’s James Piercey believes the Lakers should take things a step further by acquiring the perfect 6-foot-11 pick-and-roll partner for Doncic.
“Los Angeles is already operating far above the salary cap, with massive commitments to Doncic and LeBron James anchoring the books,” Piercey wrote Monday.
“In that environment, the goal is no longer efficiency — it’s consolidation. Turning multiple mid-sized contracts into one high-impact piece is the cleanest way to build around a superstar without clogging future flexibility.”
“(Nic) Claxton fits that mold perfectly. At 26, he aligns with Doncic’s timeline. His contract declines year over year, a quiet advantage for a team that expects to live above the tax line regardless. And from a basketball standpoint, he checks every box the Lakers need at the five: rim protection, switchability, vertical spacing, and low-usage efficiency.”
Piercey’s trade proposal sends Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, Jaxson Hayes, and a 2031 first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for Claxton.
Although Ayton is a starting-caliber big man, he has far too many flaws to be the Lakers’ featured center moving forward. Not only is Claxton more polished and reliable than Ayton, but he’s also a better lob threat for Doncic, who feasts alongside athletic bigs who don’t play a lackadaisical brand of basketball.
Claxton is averaging 12.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game with the Nets this season, shooting 58.3% from the field in 42 contests.
Claxton is a must-have frontcourt asset for the Lakers this season.
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