9:12pm: The Rockets are acquiring Capela in a sign-and-trade with the Hawks, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Twitter link), who reports that Houston is giving Atlanta a second-round pick swap in 2031 and cash to complete the deal.
7:03pm: The Rockets continued to retool their frontcourt by agreeing to a three-year, $21.5MM contract with Hawks free agent Clint Capela, ESPN’s Shams Charania tweets. The contract is fully guaranteed, Charania adds (Twitter link).
It’s no surprise that Capela, who lost his starting job in the second half of this past season, was leaving Atlanta. The Hawks are acquiring Kristaps Porzingis from the Celtics to be their starting big man, at least for next season.
Going to the Rockets, where he started his career, is somewhat of a surprise, given they already have one of the league’s top young big men in Alperen Sengun.
Houston also signed Steven Adams to a three-year extension in mid-June. Where Capela fits on the depth chart remains to be seen.
As for the contract terms, how they’ll acquire Capela is another mystery. Houston also agreed to a four-year deal with forward Dorian Finney-Smith on Monday, apparently via their non-taxpayer mid-level exception. That would mean the Rockets would have to work out a sign-and-trade to bring in Capela.
This past season, Capela started 41 of 55 games and averaged 8.9 points and 8.5 rebounds in 21.4 minutes. That was the first time in eight seasons Capela didn’t average a double-double. He was the Hawks’ regular starting center the previous four seasons after a six-year stay with Houston.
I dont entirely understand this. Nice insurance policy for Sengun and Adams but I think a scoring option wouldve made more sense. Welcome back CC!
Home coming for Capela. GM Rafael stone sure is busy this past week or so. Loving the deals they doing.
Assuming the s&t is w Atl and I’m guessing it’s lawndale and whitmore goin to Atl
Assuming Naw is a hawk as well soon
Nice flex of money if they can pull it off
They sign him and keep him away from GS, Lakers. That’s my thought. Plus he wants to win a ring. Houston is really going for it.
The lakers probably wanted to get 2 strong big men like what the suns did, Ayton is probably going to be a laker but losing out on Lopez and now capela is huge
Golden state will probably find a way to acquire someone like nikola vucevic or Al horford
Horford yes. Vucevic no.
Makes them deep. And is good insurance. Sengun can also play with a center. Rockets loading up, good sign. Could really use a shooter. A big wing shooter 3/4. Like it …….
Welcome back to Houston! I actually love the move. Gives them another guy to get boards and take up space in the paint. He can slot into backup center or possibly pair with Sengun and play the 4. Wouldn’t work against fast pfs but it’s a nice option to have.
If it takes a sign-and-trade to get him, it’s probably Whitmore going to ATL. It would make since with the Rockets keeping Tate and adding DFS, and also for the Hawks since they lost Lavert.
It makes zero sense to pay a 3rd string Center $7M/yr in the modern NBA, especially when your starter is a top 5 and you’re paying the 2nd string guy $12M/yr.
This has to be part of a larger transaction
Sengun is not a top 5 anything. He’s a Nikola tryhard, nothing more.
It’s sad to hate for no reason.
Is Adams getting moved because they can’t play together. It is even hard for Sengun to play with another big.
No, they had three centers last season. Capela is just replacing Landale and actually at a cheaper price. They will load manage all season.
link to yardbarker.com
Smith will thrive at the 4 with KD. Rockets bigs are formidable now with depth. You want to know more about Smith this is a good article …..
Lot of money for a dude that is almost cooked and didn’t have much game before that
Giannis coming to Houston
Lol
You can never have too much depth in NBA. Not if you want to contend. Rockets had Adams and Smith go down last year. Imo Adams is overpaid. Rockets can always make a move at TD. Plus keep’s Capela away from other teams. Teams play 12 players and carry 15 on roster. Teams that can work this. Are the successful ones today. the one thing all the geniuses here should have learned from last year. Is depth is a good thing. Two teams that used it most were in Finals. And one still had an injury. You never have enough depth.
How much cap space does this team have. They going to trade for LeBron next?
What will happen with Landale. With Capela wouldn’t he like take spot of Landale. I mean you have Adams and Sengun.
I liked Capela a touch when was here. But after some time really lost touch with him. Knew was with ATL but once gone he was gone. Not one I kept up on.
Makes no sense to add him to the center rotation in HOU, another team doing bad moves.