James Edwards: I think one of the biggest issues for the Pistons this year was a lack of rim protection. For all of the upside Duren has as a guy who’s already an elite rebounder at 20 years old and has good touch around the rim with some playmaking stuff here and there, he’s really got to improve defensively. I think it goes back to what I said at the top of the podcast where I think the situation Detroit finds itself – and where it’s gotten worse every year of this rebuild – is there’s pressure to be better sooner than later. I don’t think they have the luxury of what most rebuilding teams do, which is to let their guys develop. I think Nicolas Claxton would definitely check a box, which Detroit desperately needs checked, which is interior defense. Isaiah Stewart is a really good defender in space and on the perimeter. He isn’t a bad rim protector either, but they need somebody there next to him or a primary option at center since Isaiah moved to the four spot more. I’m not saying that Duren is gone. I just wonder if they bring him along slowly and bring somebody in who’s a definitively pretty good defender. In Claxton’s case, that phrase would be doing him a disservice. He’d be a lob threat for Cade Cunningham, too.
Source: HoopsHype
Source: HoopsHype
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Brian Lewis @NYPost_Lewis
Sports+: What Sean Marks’ comments to diehards may mean for the #Nets‘ approach to Donovan Mitchell, Nic Claxton and the #NBA Draft nypost.com/2024/04/20/spo… via @nypost – 11:22 AM
Sports+: What Sean Marks’ comments to diehards may mean for the #Nets‘ approach to Donovan Mitchell, Nic Claxton and the #NBA Draft nypost.com/2024/04/20/spo… via @nypost – 11:22 AM
More on this storyline
Michael Scotto: Two teams with the ability to make a sign-and-trade agreement potentially happen are the Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans. I know there are members of the Pelicans organization who like Nicolas 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. -via HoopsHype / April 18, 2024
CJ Holmes: Nic Claxton, Cam Johnson and Jacob Gilyard are available tonight vs. Toronto, Nets say. -via Twitter @CjHolmes22 / April 10, 2024