The Nets have an interesting way to show how much they value and need Nic Claxton in their rotation.
How?
They have been keeping him on the court.
Claxton is a crucial size piece for the Nets, who can struggle against a physical and tall opponent, especially without Day’Ron Sharpe, Ben Simmons, and Dorian Finney-Smith.
In the absence of those players, Claxton has taken on an average of seven additional minutes, averaging 34.4 minutes in the last 12 games compared to the 27.5 minutes he averaged throughout the rest of his 25 games played this season.
He has taken advantage of the extra time in that same span, improving on the previous 25 games with an average of 14 points on 65 percent shooting to go along with 11.7 rebounds.
However, Simmons’ return after a nearly three-month absence with a lower-back nerve impingement took some of the weight off Claxton.
The center was able to play fewer minutes (26:15) thanks to Simmons’ 6-foot-10 presence.
The fluctuation has not bothered Claxton, physically or mentally.
“It’s been a challenge, but it’s been a good challenge to have,” Claxton said after practice Friday. “It’s why you put in all the work in the offseason, to be able to trust your body to play however many minutes that I need to play. I’m looking forward to also getting guys back in the near future and it will also be good to have Ben back, too.
“You want to play minutes. I’m not complaining. I remember when I wasn’t even in the rotation. So, now that I’m being asked to play a few more minutes than normal, like I said, that’s why you put the work in the offseason.”
Still, head coach Jacque Vaughn wants to be calculated in deciding when and where Claxton takes on those minutes.
Against the 76ers — who will be without Joel Embiid, who is dealing with a lateral meniscus injury in his left knee — Vaughn said he will plan to use Royce O’Neale to help Claxton.
But he also hopes Simmons will be available after a knee contusion suffered Monday against the Jazz.
“We’ve been pretty scientific at trying to get Nic to a position that once the playoffs come around, he’s been exposed to playing high minutes,” Vaughn said. “And we can’t live in that world, but in order to run a marathon, you have to get 18, 19 miles. You just can’t keep running three and six and think you’re going to run a marathon. So it’s kind of that realm a little bit. So we’ll pick our opportunities for when we’ll ramp up his minutes.
“A lot of that is some of the feedback we get and how he’s feeling. The other night I think he played 30. And so there are going to be some nights where we need to push him to 38 and there are going to be some nights where, hopefully, we can get away with playing him 26.”
And Vaughn should use the five-year center, who will be an unrestricted free agent, as much as he can while Claxton remains on the roster ahead of the 3 p.m. Feb. 8 trade deadline.
The Post’s Brian Lewis has reported that Claxton could approach $90-to-$100 million as a free agent this summer.
As a result, NBA reporter Marc Stein has reported that Claxton could be available between now and Thursday’s deadline.
“Honestly, that’s all out of my control. I want to be here,” Claxton said. “So, at the end of the day, I just have to be present, be where my feet are and just be a professional.”