Restricted free agent Clint Capela remains without a deal and there’s a major difference between the Rockets‘ financial valuation of Capela and what the center believes he is worth, as sources tell Kelly Iko of RocketsWire.
Shortly after free agency began, the Rockets met with Capela in Los Angeles and their initial offer was similar to the four-year, $53MM deal that Jusuf Nurkic received from the Blazers, according to Iko’s two sources. Capela may be seeking a contract in the realm of four years and $80MM, close to the deal that Zach LaVine just inked.
Houston wants to keep Capela, though the franchise prefers not to overpay. Capela’s camp may be hard pressed to find a lucrative deal on the open market, with several thought-to-be suitors going in different directions. The Mavs opted to sign DeAndre Jordan; The Suns have their center of the future in Deandre Ayton; and the Lakers, a team that also met with Capela last week, exhausted most of their cap space on LeBron James and a cast of veterans.
The Hawks are roughly $20MM under the salary cap, putting them in position to make a sizable offer. However, Atlanta is reportedly focused on using its cap space to acquire player-friendly contracts in exchange for assets. The Kings have slightly less cap room than the Hawks, but pairing Capela with No. 2 overall pick Marvin Bagley III in the frontcourt would be an awkward fit, and Sacramento has other bigs it likes, such as Harry Giles.
Capela is the top remaining free agent left on the market, according to our 2018 rankings. The big man was ranked No. 6 overall, coming in behind LBJ, Durant, Nikola Jokic, Paul George, and teammate Chris Paul.
Cant blame the Rockets for letting another team set the market for him. He will probably accept the qualifying offer and be an ufa next offseason, which is not great for Houston.
Atlanta should put in a bid. The market for Centers is dry, and the upcoming draft only has 1-2 in it.
Really think he would of fit for the Lakers. Rim protector. Roller. Rebounder. Doesn’t need the ball to b a contributor
Agree, but it would have to be a sign and trade!
20 mil a year for a 14/11/2 center? Let him walk and see how good he is when he isn’t the fourth best guy on the court on his team and thus as open.
He’s the 4th best player on a lot of teams.
Not the 4th best on any team that’s going to offer him 20 mil
Rockets can let him walk, but if they lose him and Ariza in the same offseason it’s just flat out over for them. They missed their window
Rockets will wait on other teams and then maybe work out a multi year deal based on the offer sheet?
I think he signs the QO to become unrestricted next year.
Capela is in a tough spot – he’s worth much more than what Julius Randle got but will struggle to find it.
Re ATL – i like Jabari better for them. He’s undervalued, probably won’t get matched on a 3-$45m type deal, and won’t dramatically affect their tanking plan this year. He could be another dynamic scorer/shooter to go along with Young and Huerter.
He’s really not….Randle is better in most ways but in Rockets system Capela fits perfect
In fairness, Julius Randle was arguably worth more than what Julius Randle got too. If they are offerin 4/53, they will probably give 4/60. $60 million is not worth turning down. Just ask Nerlens Noel if he would like a $60 million offer right now.
Problem with that is what would you do with John Collins? The Hawks are rebuilding and want to save money until they can get rid of Bazemore and Schroeder. Trae Young has had horrible summer league, only played 9 minutes today. For 4 games he’s 13-54, and 3-26 from 3. Those are Markelle Fultz numbers.
Houston is in same boat as Portland. You pay 2 all star guards, but can’t afford a frontline.
He only played 9 minutes because he got hurt today. A minor quad injury, but enough to keep him out for the rest of the game.
Does the reason matter?
Yes. If he played 9 minutes without being hurt, it is far more telling that if he played 9 minutes before getting hurt in the first half.
Well I think going by last season JR is obviously better than Capela, though they play different positions & is hard to compare them. JR has got much more potential & can do more things than Capela. Mio/Swanson you are clueless man, Fultz & Young are 2 very good players, which I believe they can be stars in this league, which Indiana hasn’t got any, they could only dream of players like this two. I though Turner could be one, but hasn’t progressed in the last 2 years, so… Sabonis I am not sure he can be more than a good player, probably your best guy is Tyreke, but he always struggle to be healthy, & about Oladipo, he had a very good season, but I think is just a guy that is very good in a bad team, don’t really think he will ever be a proper star. So I would take those 2 any day of the week & twice on Sundays.
Dionis no. 2.
I said this would happen. Not much cap room around the league, and a bunch of bigs available in a market where not many teams need bigs. Restricted free agency is difficult enough without those things.
If reports are true. Four year 53 million seems very fair considering this years market forces. 2016 contracts still affecting the books in a negative way. At 24 years old, he should take the 53/ 4 yr deal. If he is a great player that will give him the years to prove it. 53 mill in hand is better than a maybe in the Bush
Pay Capela. Take the $ that you are going to give melo and give to him. One is must have…..the other is a nice to have…..for dinner parties
Find a way to ship off Andersons contract, then have both!
Capella’s a more valuable an asset to Houston than any of the other RFAs were to their teams. So, I think he’ll get close to what he wants. Houston’s worked (and spent) hard to create their current window to contend, and they have no apparent means of replacing Capella in that window, he’s the lynch pin of their defense and their only significant ascending player.
Couldn’t agree more. They need to resign him if they want to remain a lock as the 2nd best team in the West
Without Capella, the Rockets have no chance against the Warriors. Zach Lavine is only restricted free agent offered a contract, guessing Capela has to negotiate with Rockets. With Rockets at $12MM and Capela at $20MM, I see him holding out until as close to the season starts like J.R. Smith and Tristan Thompson did.