A Free Center for the Bears
The Chicago Bulls filled a massive hole at center without giving up a single asset. They landed Nic Claxton in a three-team deal that cost them nothing. Per Pippen Ain’t Easy, the team absorbed his salary into their open cap space. No lottery picks or second-rounders left Chicago. This move stands out as the shrewdest deal of a busy offseason. Executive VP Bryson Graham earned top marks for this specific acquisition. He secured a young, athletic big man while other teams overpaid for lesser options.
Claxton brings a specific skill set the Bulls have lacked for years. The 26-year-old started 68 games for Brooklyn last season. He averaged 11.7 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. His defensive numbers show a mix of past glory and recent decline. At his peak in 2022-23, he finished ninth in Defensive Player of the Year voting. That season, he shot a league-leading 70.5 percent from the field. His current contract is team-friendly, paying him $23.1 million this year.
Splitter Knows the Player
Bulls head coach Tiago Splitter has a history with Claxton that matters. Splitter served as an assistant coach for the Nets from 2019 to 2023. He watched Claxton develop from a G League player into a starter. According to Pippen Ain’t Easy, Splitter saw Claxton’s meticulous growth arc firsthand. This relationship gives the coaching staff a clear path to unlock Claxton’s potential. Splitter can steer Claxton’s on-court play toward better outcomes immediately.
The connection between coach and player is rare in the modern NBA. It removes the need for a long adjustment period in Chicago. Splitter understands Claxton’s defensive instincts and his offensive limitations. The Bulls need a center who can protect the rim and run the floor. Claxton fits this profile if he can return to his previous form. The team needs to get younger and more athletic. Claxton provides exactly that upgrade over the previous starter.
Fixing the Numbers Game
The path forward requires ignoring past stats and focusing on current relevance. Advanced analytics show a sharp drop in Claxton’s defensive numbers. His block averages fell from 2.5 per game to 1.1 in the 2025-26 season. Rebound averages also declined from 9.2 to 6.9 over the same period. These stats paint a clear picture of a player in decline. However, the Bulls are not looking for redemption for his time in Brooklyn. They need a relevant piece for their 2026-27 roster.
Claxton’s ability to facilitate offense offers a way to help the team. He averaged 3.7 assists per game last season. This shows developing upside as a passer from the high post. The Bulls want to out-athlete teams with length and physicality. Claxton’s skill set is tailor-made for this specific goal. If he can stop the bleeding on defense, the offense will flow better. The price paid was zero assets, which lowers the risk significantly.
The Bulls have a chance to turn a free agent into a core piece. The focus must be on the future, not fixing the past. Claxton has the tools to be a top-tier center again. Splitter has the experience to guide him back to that level. The team avoids the massive mistake of overpaying for a different player. Chicago got a bargain in one of Graham’s most clever moves. The season starts with high hopes for this specific pairing.
