NBA Draft 2019 Prospect Watch: Nicolas Claxton

Fit with the Bucks

There is a fit for Claxton’s unique archetype on every team in the NBA, and one team will roll the dice on the upside.

If Claxton’s projection plays out over time, the Bucks would have the luxury of making their already dynamic defense that much better. Mike Budenholzer’s drop coverage defense would allow Claxton’s length to impact shots at the rim both on ball and from the weak side. If isolated on a more physical post scorer, say a Joel Embiid, that is where the problems will occur. Budenholzer would likely send help often in these scenarios, opening up an opposing perimeter player.

While Claxton needs time to add strength and develop his offensive skill-set, he likely would not see major minutes in his rookie year, but still could crack the rotation with his defensive mobility. Even then, this selection would be a long-term play. If the Bucks feel that Brook Lopez may walk in his unrestricted free agency, then they may choose to select a long-term developmental big man to put alongside a less expensive free agent for a couple years.

The absolute best-case scenario is that Claxton hones his offensive touch and puts in time in the Milwaukee weight room, so he can provide a wildly unique all-around offensive threat (pass-dribble-shoot as a 7-footer), while effectively guarding up to four positions by his second or third year.

While this has shades of the promise of Thon Maker, the weaknesses are apples to oranges. Maker indeed struggled with strength and physicality and was quickly relegated to the perimeter, but the ball-handling, functional athleticism, and coordination that is all impossible to teach, is not a weakness of Claxton’s.

While the Bucks have continued to be very tight-lipped about who they are bringing in for workouts, it has become more difficult to gauge the direction that they will ultimately follow. Will they look for a plug and play rotational depth player at No. 30 knowing they will be contending for a championship next season? Or will they take the higher ceiling approach knowing they still have excellent depth next season, select a player such as Claxton, and hope to develop a long-term difference maker (perhaps in the mold of a Pascal Siakam) to play alongside Antetokounmmpo for the next decade?

While Claxton has been moving up draft boards since his terrific showing at the NBA Combine, his current projection sits around the latter stage of the first round. If the 2018-19 playoff teams want to continue building for immediate contention, perhaps a prospect like Claxton will last until Jon Horst makes a selection with the 30th pick.