The Brooklyn Nets will be searching for offensive upgrades this summer as they attempt to take a step back towards relevancy next season. Meanwhile, the Charlotte Hornets are searching for a starting-caliber center alongside LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller.
HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto hinted that the two teams could pursue a sign-and-trade involving Nic Claxton and unrestricted free agent Coby White.
“With Charlotte considering a starting-caliber center upgrade, other centers besides [Domantas] Sabonis are on their radar, including Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton, league sources told HoopsHype. In addition, it’s worth noting that the Nets have expressed interest in Hornets free agent guard Coby White in the past when he was on the Chicago Bulls,” Scotto wrote. “While the Nets have the necessary cap space to pursue White and other players outright, could both teams discuss a sign-and-trade deal involving the two players if Brooklyn uses its cap space on other players? Hornets president Jeff Peterson worked in Brooklyn with Nets general manager and alternate governor Sean Marks.”
Claxton was a Defensive Player of the Year candidate and a blossoming offensive center in 2022-23, but he’s struggled to replicate that dominance while battling injuries over the last three seasons. Still, the 27-year-old would offer the Hornets a more experienced center option than Moussa Diabate or Ryan Kalkbrenner at a low cost.
Claxton is under contract for $23.3 million next season and $21.1 million in 2027-28.
Why Nic Claxton, Coby White swap could make sense for Nets, Hornets
Meanwhile, White would offer the Nets an experienced ball-handler alongside their five rookies from last season and whoever they select at No. 6 in Tuesday’s draft. The seven-year veteran has averaged 19.1 points on .449/.370/.839 shooting splits with 4.6 assists and 2.3 turnovers per game (1.99 ast/to) across 203 appearances over the last three seasons.
The Hornets traded Colin Sexton, Ousmane Dieng and a pair of second-round picks for White at the deadline. While the veteran guard performed well across 23 appearances with Charlotte, he’s stuck behind Ball and Kneuppel in the team’s backcourt rotation.
White could view the Nets as an enticing landing spot, given their lack of proven ball-handlers and spending power. His size (6-foot-4) and three-point shooting (37 percent on 10.5 attempts per 100 possessions for his career) fit into Brooklyn’s team-building philosophy. At 26 years old, the former top-10 pick could have room for growth with added opportunity.
With upwards of $45 million in cap space at their disposal, the Nets can sign White outright. However, a sign-and-trade involving Claxton would allow them to use their cap space elsewhere to improve the roster.
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