SEC Basketball: Buy or Sell top remaining 2019 NBA Draft decisions
By Alex Weber
Nicolas Claxton (Georgia) 6’11 Center
2019 Per-Game Stats: 13.0 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 2.5 blocks, 46% FG, 28.1% 3PT
Claxton, a rangy center of Tom Crean’s program, is a total conglomeration of skills-mismatchedness for his position. The sophomore struggled mightily with consistency during his freshman campaign but was able to stabilize his production this past year, although his strengths on a per-game basis varied hilariously. A handwritten list of his attributes would make teams in last Tuesday’s lottery woozy, but in person, he’s truly a bizarre basketball specimen.
As a Kentucky fan, my introduction to the current version of Claxton came this past January when Georgia hosted the Wildcats. The game was a bore (Kentucky hammered the Dawgs) but number 33 in white commanded my attention from tip to finish.
His body movement was the first thing to catch my eye. Even for a gawky 7-footer, he moves like a shedding rattlesnake. Nothing seems comfortable yet he draws Pascal Siakam comparisons with his ability to slither down the court so quickly and in control. And then once transition play fades, his contortions are only magnified in half-court sets both on offense and defense. Offensively, he cut better than any big man in the SEC, but he also gets lost in his own befuddlement from time to time. On defense, forget everything you know about watching organized basketball. The guy can make athletically phenomenal plays that acrobats dream of, while also spinning around like a lost child frequently while his man scores at the rim.
To say we’re looking at a unique prospect is an understatement. Claxton truly filled a point-center role in Crean’s offense last season, and its results were interesting if not effective–Georgia still lost nearly every League game, thanks Vanderbilt! Claxton narrowly finished second on the team in assists at 1.8, which is strikingly low for a college team’s lead passer. This past season, Georgia didn’t have a point guard, Claxton was their closest thing–and he’s parsecs away from being a Giannis type figure as a lead ballhandler. His role as a point-center sounds modern and jaw-dropping on paper, but its practice was a result of abysmal coaching rather than actual talent.
Claxton should never be employed as a lead ballhandler a la Ben Simmons. He is much better suited playing inside the three-point line and surrounded by other elite passers instead of being forced to become one when his raw skills suggest otherwise.
Sorry to spoil the verdict, but I do believe in Claxton’s NBA potential. He’s an extraordinarily athletic big man who can handle the ball in certain situations and has every physical tool necessary for defensive greatness. For Nic, securing first round assurance will be huge, so he can earn guarunteed money and focus on improving and detailing his game over the next few seasons until he’s ready to fill a major role on an NBA team, which he certainly can do.