4:48pm: The signing is official, Chris Mannix of Yahoo Sports tweets.
3:14pm: The Rockets and free agent center Clint Capela have reached an agreement on a five-year, $90MM contract, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (via Twitter). Having entered the offseason among 2018’s top free agents, Capela was one of the last impact players still unsigned, as well as one of the final restricted free agents still on the market.
The terms of Capela’s new deal look similar to Houston’s reported offer from earlier this month. During the second week of free agency, we heard that the Rockets had offered their starting center a five-year, $85MM deal that could be worth up to $90MM in incentives.
It’s the second mega-deal that the Rockets have agreed to in July. In the early hours of free agency, the team struck a four-year, maximum-salary deal to re-sign point guard Chris Paul. Since then, Houston has seen Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute sign with new teams, but has added James Ennis and lined up an agreement with Carmelo Anthony.
While Capela’s new contract will fall short of the $100MM he was reportedly seeking, it looks like a very fair deal, considering no team had the cap space left to make a comparable offer. Capela’s first massive NBA payday comes in at a rate of $18MM per year, allowing the Rockets to lock up a young, improving center for the long term without having to worry about him accepting his qualifying offer and bolting as an unrestricted free agent in a year.
Prior to officially signing Anthony and Capela, the Rockets have nearly $118MM in guaranteed salaries on their books. Capela’s big raise will push that total well beyond the $123.733MM luxury tax line, setting up Houston to be a taxpaying team for the 2018/19 season, barring major cost-cutting moves.
Capela, 24, has made substantial strides in each of his four NBA seasons, evolving from a little-used rookie in 2014/15 into one of the league’s most productive centers this past season. In 2017/18, he averaged a double-double (13.9 PPG and 10.8 RPG) while contributing 1.9 BPG and a league-leading .652 FG%. Although Capela’s offensive game is somewhat limited, he’s an effective screen setter and finisher at the rim, and provides the Rockets with strong rim protection at the other end of the court.
According to Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders (via Twitter), Capela’s five-year contract will include no team or player options.
With Capela off the board, Rodney Hood (Cavaliers) and Patrick McCaw (Warriors) are the only two NBA restricted free agents who remain on the market.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Now everyone can stop talking about how the Rockets were going to lose Capela.
They still won’t be as good as they were last year after listing two good forwards in free agency to the suns and clippers. I like the Rockets and I’m pulling for Harden and CP3 to both get a ring but I feel like they took a step backwards. Even if they get Carmelo.
Speaking of Melo. How can they even afford him after the money they’ve spent this offseason? He said he won’t come off the bench as well. So the Rockets are going to start him? I’m confused. I wonder if he ends up going somewhere else.
The Rockets will starting lineup will probably be:
1. CP3
2. Harden
3. P.J. Tucker
4. Melo
5. Capela
Since Melo didn’t lose any of his $27MM salary when he was waived by Atlanta, he’ll likely agree to a 1 yr, Vet’s Minimum deal.
That makes sense. Thank you for clearing up. I forgot if salved they still get the full salary so he’s not losing any money and can afford to sign for the minimum.
That starting lineup is amazing.
50 Wins?
58
I believe they still have their tax payer (MLE) left probably 4.5 mill or so. they are definitely in tax land 136 mill I think is their total according to espn
Don’t write off DeAnthony Melton. I think he makes a quality contribution for the rockets
2019 NBA Champions.
Not if DeMarcus Cousins gets healthy for the Warriors.
Not only that, but Chris Paul is so fragile and a year older.
Boogie or no Boogie, the Rockets got worse and the Warriors certainly did not.
Rockets will beat them.
Yeah, and there are four naked super models in my kitchen right now making me eggs Benedict.
Finding 4 women who know how to properly poach an egg seems unrealisOH WAIT
Western Conference runner up, same as last year.
Capela is a truly elite defender, and is deserving of this contract. He’ll need to be even better next year with Melo at the 4.
Yup
18 mil a year?! I love when players sign for so much when joins was in on him but the rockets. He certainly is a good player but not worth that much. He just fits their system well.
Most Teams would have paid him that, if not more.
Have you seen what centers get now? 18m is a good deal for all.
i think he deserve for 20m a years. 18m is cheap.
Not gonna age well. This team will be worse than people expect next year, lost wings that primarly guard other teams best players. Cp3 and harden will be exposed this year, capela can only make so much of a difference.
Exposed how?
Rockets fans in denial, thought they were getting lebron instead got melo. Aging roster without ariza (your best defender) luc richard your other great defender. Houstons done unless they trade someone for cap space.
Still the 2nd best team in the West, but yeah they done.
Their best defenders are Chris Paul and PJ Tucker.
They are now
That’s akin to someone saying GS is one injury away from losing it all next season. Karma gonna get you.
Golden State is two injuries away from losing it all. You can take any single player, including Durant or Curry, out of that lineup and they’d still beat the Rockets in their current state. It will take a blockbuster, and some magic by Daryl Morey to put the Rockets over the Warriors
Dude you are so negative could you just keep that to yourself sheeesh.
I’m with you Dionis. Signing a 24 year old who has improved every year to a below market contract and this dude is hating on it. Crazy
Dionis calling someone else negative? Lmao, what was the subject in school today?
He has done VERY well to command that kind of coin. A contract based on team success and not wanting to rock the boat in terms of continuity/chemistry. I can think of about twenty bigs who would fare just as well playing with Harden, Paul and a load of 3 point shooters.
Would’ve been nice to have a team boost Capela’s contract. Nets, Hawks and bulls could’ve gave him that Otto Porter treatment.
5/90 about right. pragmatic ldfanatic told us all along. (Spellchecker with the nickname)
Capella will earn his money covering up for Melo. The team is a little better but it will be hard to get to the result they got in 2018.
He is worth the cash. He can help carry CP3 off the court when he pulls his groin again in the playoffs. He seems to do it right on cue every year that he makes it. He always seems to be either mistake or injury prone every playoff and he did it again this year. Houston wins 59 or less & does not make conference finals next year. Boo Hoo CP3 gets too many accolades for a guy who has never played for the big burrito, he and Melonhead can keep dreaming. Good for Clint, Cleanup on Carmelo Lane please.
Not too bad a contract for a guy that maybe just got in the top 10 of centers last year. Obviously he ain’t a star & will never be, but a good player.
No way Houston makes it to the WCF this year, I wish they had won last year but their chance came & went, barring CP3 injury I have no doubt they would have beaten GSW. But this year the WCF vs GSW is clearly for the Lakers of The King.
Bargain