The Chicago Bulls traded for Nic Claxton in the apparent hope that he could anchor their defense and provide stability to a team in dire need of it. Unfortunately, Claxton missed the Bulls' first eight games. During that time, Jalen Smith made quite the statement with his production and intensity.
Though Claxton is the more proven player and thus has the stronger case for being the best option to start at center, the fact that the Bulls are rebuilding makes it fair to ask: Does it really make sense to bench a rising up-and-comer?
Yes, Smith is in his seventh NBA season and is only one year younger than Claxton, who's 27. The difference between them, however, appears to be a matter of untapped potential, with Smith not yet revealing the true limits of his game.
Finally positioned to showcase his abilities, Smith has been a force on the glass and a rare source of dependable offensive production for the Bulls.
Thus far, Smith is averaging 11.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.1 offensive boards, 1.8 assists, and 1.2 blocks in 23.3 minutes per game. Those numbers translate to 18.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, 3.3 offensive boards, 2.7 assists, and 1.9 blocks per 36 minutes.
Unfortunately, Smith being a rare source of production on a team that ranks No. 26 in offensive rating may not be enough to save his spot in the starting five.
If Bulls plan to trade Nic Claxton, then should they bench Jalen Smith?
If Claxton were in it for the long haul, then perhaps this wouldn't be a conversation. One simply can't help but wonder if he's in Chicago to act as trade bait, however, as he has two years and $44,420,458 left on a contract that could help the Bulls build out their depth and draft resources if exchanged appropriately.
Perhaps the plan is for Claxton and fellow offseason addition Norman Powell to be with the Bulls for the entire season, but if not, then benching Smith will be a tough pill to swallow.
The obvious retort is that maximizing Claxton's trade value will require the Bulls to play him consistent enough minutes to prove himself to the market. With that in mind, the argument for starting him over Smith is simple and straightforward: Fail to do so and the trade return could prove limited.
If the goal is to trade Claxton, however, then it's at least fair to ponder: Could benching Smith despite him being one of the few reliable players on the team thus far negatively impact his development?
Yes, once again, Smith is seven years in, but he's on pace to play at least 20 minutes per game for just the second time in his career. The first was in 2025-26 with Chicago. During his tenure with the team, he's proven to be a skilled big man who offers value on both ends of the floor.
Whether or not he's the long-term answer at the center position is all but irrelevant if Claxton is just going to be traded, as Chicago doesn't exactly have a replacement waiting in the wings.
Starting Nic Claxton is the right move, but will it alienate Jalen Smith?
The likely long-term plan is to feature Claxton as a starter and still give Smith enough minutes to continue refining his skill set. That may ultimately reveal that Claxton is, in fact, the ideal running mate for Caleb Wilson.
One simply can't help but wonder if that should deter Chicago from trading Claxton considering he can become an unrestricted free agent in 2028.
Yes, Claxton could conceivably sign an extension ahead of that time or even re-sign in 2028. If the Bulls, which appear nowhere near ready to compete for a spot in the postseason, are unable to field a competitive team, however, then convincing a then 29-year-old Claxton to continue attaching his career to non-contenders could be a tough sell.
With all of this in mind, Smith playing well individually is making it awkward to start Claxton, even if that is the right thing to do.
Add us as a preferred source on Google