Can Nets Replace What Claxton Brought to Defense?
· Yahoo Sports
After spending his best 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 front and center of the team’s defense. Be it his rim protection, seamless switching, or ability to erase mistakes around the basket, the Georgia alum stood out in all those domains.
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Though the trade brought Julius Randle and the No. 28 pick, Joshua Jefferson, to the Nets, the team would find it one of the biggest challenges to replace Claxton’s defensive presence going into the 2026-27 season.
However, Brooklyn appears ready to hand that opportunity to Day'Ron Sharpe. At least for now.
Brooklyn Nets center Day'Ron Sharpe intends to sign a new two-year, $20 million deal to return to the franchise, sources tell ESPN. Nets declined Sharpe's team option to do a new contract, just as they did with Josh Minott. pic.twitter.com/gNj9REx2Ix
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 29, 2026
The Nets signed the 24-year-old on a two-year extension this offseason. He’s expected to compete for the starting center role after spending most of his career as a reserve. Sharpe is coming off the best offensive season of his NBA career. He averaged 8.7 points as he established himself as one of the league's better rebounders on a per-minute basis.
His offensive game also looks different from Claxton's.
Sharpe has bagged more perimeter touches and provides stronger rebounding, two areas where Brooklyn struggled throughout last season. With Randle joining the frontcourt, the Nets are hoping to improve scoring and physicality to offset some of the defensive production they lost.
The question is whether Sharpe can handle the responsibilities that came with Claxton's role all alone.
Unlike Claxton, who routinely logged around 30 minutes per game, Sharpe has never played heavy starter's minutes. Foul trouble and turnovers have occasionally limited his impact. His rim protection also remains largely untested over an extended workload.
To help ease that transition, Brooklyn added another veteran option in free agency.
Free agent Moe Wagner has agreed to a two-year, $19 million deal with the Brooklyn Nets, sources tell ESPN. The deal contains a mutual option guaranteeing the $19M while allowing either side to opt-in (not opt-out) along with having a conversation about doing a new contract next… pic.twitter.com/IVZbZiUprq
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2026
Former Orlando Magic center Moe Wagner signed a two-year, $19 million deal after recovering from a torn ACL. He averaged 10.5 points across three seasons in Orlando before injuries cut short his 2025-26 campaign.
He brings experience as an energetic offensive big who can stretch the floor. Rather than putting the burden on one player to replace Claxton outright, the Nets appear prepared to divide those responsibilities.
Sharpe projects as the primary rebounder and interior presence, while Wagner provides scoring, spacing and frontcourt depth. Together, they offer more offensive versatility than Claxton, even if neither individually matches his defensive impact.
That won't be easy to replace.
Claxton leaves Brooklyn ranked among the franchise leaders in rebounds and blocks while finishing first in field-goal percentage in team history. Since the Nets moved to Brooklyn in 2012, only Brook Lopez has arguably had a greater impact at center.
Chicago viewed those defensive tools as exactly what its young roster needed, acquiring Claxton primarily to address years of rim-protection issues.
On the other hand, the Nets believe improving their offense and overall roster balance outweighs losing an elite defender. Whether Sharpe and Wagner can collectively fill the defensive void left by Claxton will go a long way toward determining whether that gamble pays off.
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