​After his prime NBA years spent with Brooklyn, Nic Claxton was traded to the Chicago Bulls in a three-team deal. Over seven seasons with the Nets, Claxton anchored the team’s defense, standing at the forefront of their interior protection. Whether it was his rim deterrence, seamless switching on ball screens, or his ability to erase mistakes near the basket, the Georgia product distinguished himself across all these facets. Although the trade brought Julius Randle and the 28th pick, Joshua Jefferson, to Brooklyn, replacing Claxton’s defensive presence was anticipated as one of the season’s biggest challenges heading into 2026-27.
Yet Brooklyn seems prepared to entrust that task to Day’Ron Sharpe—for now at least. The Nets locked up the 24-year-old on a two-year extension this offseason, positioning him to compete for the starting center role after spending much of his career as a reserve. Sharpe arrives off the most productive offensive season of his NBA tenure, posting 8.7 points per game while establishing himself as a notably efficient rebounder on a per-minute basis. His offensive style also diverges from Claxton’s; Sharpe has enjoyed more perimeter touches and brings sturdier rebounding, two areas where Brooklyn encountered difficulties last season. With Randle joining the frontcourt, the Nets are counting on improved scoring and physicality to help offset some of the defensive production they lost.
The question remains whether Sharpe can shoulder the responsibilities that Claxton managed so deftly on his own. Unlike Claxton, who routinely logged around 30 minutes per game, Sharpe has never shouldered heavy starting duties. His impact has been occasionally constrained by foul trouble and turnovers, and his rim protection has not been tested to a sustained, high-minute workload. To ease the transition, Brooklyn added another veteran option in free agency. Former Orlando Magic center Moe Wagner agreed to a two-year, $19 million deal after returning from a torn ACL. He averaged 10.5 points during three seasons in Orlando before injuries truncated his 2025-26 campaign. Wagner brings experience as an energetic offensive big who can stretch the floor, offering a different look and depth inside the frontcourt. Rather than forcing one player to fill Claxton’s shoes outright, the Nets appear intent on dividing the responsibilities.
Sharpe is expected to anchor the boards and provide interior presence, while Wagner supplies scoring, floor spacing, and frontcourt depth. Together, they give Brooklyn more offensive versatility than Claxton provided, even if neither matches his elite defensive impact in isolation. Replacing Claxton’s production is an arduous task, and the challenge is evident. Claxton’s departure leaves Brooklyn with a player who ranks among the franchise leaders in rebounds and blocks and who led the team in field-goal percentage since the Nets’ relocation to Brooklyn in 2012, with only Brook Lopez possibly rivaling his impact at center. Chicago pursued those defensive capabilities precisely because they believed a young roster could benefit from that kind of protection, seeking to address defensive gaps that could help the team accelerate its progress.