Nic

Claxton

Claxton finished Wednesday’s loss with his second double-double in three games and his sixth of the season. He’s disappointed in fantasy basketball, ranking well outside the top 150 in 8- and 9-cat formats. Claxton is a top-100 player in FT%-punt builds, but just barely. The rebuild certainly hasn’t helped; hopefully, Wednesday’s performance can push Claxton in the right direction.

Claxton chucked a ball into the stands after being fouled on a fast break against the Raptors and was ejected shortly after. The Nets center amassed seven points and five rebounds in 11 minutes before exiting the contest. His removal from the game could make room for Day’Ron Sharpe to pay a little more in the second half.

Sunday’s game was a step in the right direction for Claxton. He had 21 points on 14 shots, made all three of his free throws and impacted the game on the defensive end with three steals and two blocks. Fantasy managers will certainly take that after what’s been a rough start to the year for the 25-year-old center.

Even with the understanding that Claxton is a player who forces most category league managers to punt free throw percentage, he’s been disappointing this season. Ranked well outside the top 150 in 9-cat formats, he’s just inside the top 100 in FT%-punt builds. That’s far from what fantasy managers expected of Claxton based on his Yahoo ADP (68). Staying healthy would help, as it would allow him to establish momentum.

Claxton got a bit too physical on an intentional foul on Franz Wagner in the closing moments of the loss. This is his second ejection for a Flagrant 2 this season in what was another frustrating performance for him. Claxton had a sixth round ADP in Yahoo leagues but has been incredibly disappointing this year, as he ranks outside the top-150 in 9-cat leagues and has already missed six games. He finished with nine points, seven rebounds, two steals, one block and five turnovers in 28 minutes before his ejection.

Ben Simmons and Tyrese Martin have been bumped from the starting lineup for Dennis Schroder and Nic Claxton ahead of Sunday’s contest.

Claxton missed the last two games, but came off the bench Friday and played 26 minutes in the blowout loss to the Magic. He looked like himself as he scored eight points, pulled down seven rebounds and blocked three shots. Claxton might’ve had a double-double if he got more minutes in a closer game. Even if his minutes were being managed purely due to his back injury, he can still make an impact for fantasy managers.

Claxton has missed the last two games dealing with his back injury, but he’ll get back on the court Friday against the Magic. The Nets no longer have to go small with their starting lineup with Claxton returning.

Claxton has missed Brooklyn’s last two games, which left the Nets shorthanded in the frontcourt. Ben Simmons was in the starting lineup for the Nets’ win over Phoenix on Wednesday and should remain in the starting lineup if Claxton can’t play.

Claxton is only considered day-to-day due to his back injury on a day littered with Nets injury updates. After Wednesday, Brooklyn plays two games against the Magic (Friday and Sunday) before beginning Week 7 on Monday in Chicago. With Noah Clowney out for at least two weeks, the Nets will likely go small on Wednesday, with Jalen Wilson getting another start. He should be streamed wherever available.