Nets Rumors: Nic Claxton Could Get $20M+ Annually on FA Contract; Pelicans Linked

Brooklyn Nets center (and impending unrestricted free agent) could command $20 million-$25 million per year in free agency, per Michael Scotto on the latest HoopsHype podcast.

"Through my conversations with executives, I'd say he remains around that $20 million figure annually," Scotto said. "I think $25 million would be his ceiling as of now."

Scotto mentioned the Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans as two teams who could get a sign-and-trade deal done with the Nets for Claxton, further adding these remarks on the Pels in particular:

"I know there are members of the Pelicans organization who like Claxton, and the future of Jonas Valanciunas is uncertain, given how close the team will be to the luxury tax next season and his lack of usage at the end of the games, including the Play-In loss to the Lakers."

The 25-year-old Claxton has spent his entire five-year NBA career with the Nets. He averaged 11.8 points on 62.9 percent shooting, 9.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game over 71 starts last season.

However, the Nets and Claxton have mutual interest in getting a deal done, to the point where Brian Lewis of the New York Post told Scotto he thinks it's more likely than not that the big man returns:

"If you're asking me over or under 50 percent if Claxton is back, I think it's over 50 percent. I think the Nets have been fully aware that they were going to be staring down the barrel of his unrestricted free agency and have been preparing for it for some time. I'd go as far as saying they've been fretting over it because they've had to carve out the money for this. They want him back.

"As far as Claxton, he told me last year that he wants to be back. He told me at the beginning of this year he wants to be, and he talked to you about it..."

Claxton is a nightly double-double threat, an efficient scorer and a defensive standout. At just 25 years old, he has plenty of good basketball left, hence the lucrative contract coming his way. Granted, he's limited to the post on offense, but his positive traits make up for it.

He was also one of the brightest spots on a 32-50 Nets team that is in flux. The team has made a reported coaching change by coming to terms with Sacramento Kings associate head coach Jordi Fernández.

It's also unclear what the Nets' future looks like, with just two players (Cameron Johnson, Mikal Bridges) under contract past 2024-25.

Claxton should be part of a solution for brighter days in Brooklyn given his success and potential for more of it, so re-signing him long-term makes sense as the summer nears.