NBA Rumors: Nets 'Would Like' New Nic Claxton Contract in 2024 Free Agency

Despite his status as an impending unrestricted free agent, center Nic Claxton is reportedly still in the Brooklyn Nets' future plans.

According to ESPN's Zach Lowe, the Nets "would like" to re-sign Claxton this offseason and extend his stay with the organization.

Claxton, 24, was the No. 31 overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft by the Nets, and he has spent his entire five-year NBA career in Brooklyn. If he and the Nets can't come to terms on a new deal, he can hit free agency this offseason.

After excelling primarily as a defender over his first three seasons, Claxton has expanded his game the past two years while remaining an elite rebounder and rim protector.

In 76 games last season, Claxton set career highs across he board with averages of 12.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and 1.9 assists, while shooting a league-leading 70.5 percent from the field.

As a result, Claxton finished fifth in the NBA Most Improved Player Award voting and ninth in NBA Defensive Player of the Year voting.

So far this season, Claxton is averaging a career-high 10.2 rebounds per game to go along with 12.2 points, 2.3 blocks and 1.9 assists, and he is shooting 62.5 percent from the floor over 44 contests.

Claxton has gone from a rotational piece to a regular starter who is at least in the conversation for being the best defensive center in the NBA.

The Nets reached the playoffs last season despite trading away Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, but they have largely struggled as a team in their first full season without either player.

At 21-33, the Nets are 11th in the Eastern Conference, putting them 2.5 games behind the Atlanta Hawks for the final spot in the postseason play-in tournament.

Still, the Nets have a talented, young core in place comprised of players aged 27 or younger, including Claxton, Mikal Bridges, Cam Thomas and Cameron Johnson.

It can be argued that Brooklyn may need to move on from one or two of those players to shake up the roster, but Claxton has arguably been the Nets' most valuable player, so their reported desire to keep him is understandable.

Going elsewhere in free agency would perhaps give Claxton the chance to win and contend more quickly, but the Nets can offer him the best contract, so staying put could be attractive to him.

Also, the Nets picked up some future assets in trades over the next couple of seasons, so they may not be as far away from contention as they appear to be right now.