Report: Rockets have received several trade calls on Clint Capela - Rockets Wire
The Houston Rockets have received several calls from NBA teams checking on the potential availability of starting center Clint Capela, according to a new report Friday from The Athletic‘s Shams Charania.
With the Thursday, Feb. 6 trade deadline less than a week away, talks are expected to pick up around the league in the days ahead — with the Rockets and GM Daryl Morey always among the most active teams.
Charania reports:
The [Atlanta] Hawks are among several teams expressing interest in Rockets center Clint Capela, according to sources. Houston has received several calls on Capela, but is said to be unlikely to move him barring an overwhelming offer.
It’s understandable why Capela would have suitors. At just 25 years old, the 6-foot-10 big man is averaging 13.9 points (62.9% shooting), 13.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks in 32.8 minutes per game this season. His per-game rebounding total is fourth in the league.
In addition to his age and on-court value, Capela is also under contract for three more seasons after the current 2019-20 campaign — which makes him a potential fit for both contenders and rebuilding teams, since he wouldn’t be a threat to leave in free agency until 2023.
Combine all those attributes with Morey’s historically aggressive profile as a GM, and it’s easy to see why teams have placed calls.
With that said, as Charania explains, the Rockets would probably need to be overwhelmed by an offer to actually get a Capela deal done. They expect to contend for this year’s NBA title, and removing the team’s starting center would seem to diminish the odds of that, unless there was a significant return heading Houston’s way.
Furthermore, there doesn’t seem to be a center replacement on the current roster that head coach Mike D’Antoni trusts to play extended minutes in Capela’s absence. Seven-footer Isaiah Hartenstein has shown flashes, but the 21-year-old hasn’t played at all in five of the last seven games. In the two he did play, Hartenstein totaled six minutes or less.
And veteran Tyson Chandler, at 37 years old and in his 19th NBA season, isn’t a candidate for extended minutes.
The Rockets did have success during Monday’s victory at Utah, which Capela sat out with a heel injury, in playing smaller lineups with P.J. Tucker at center. But for that to consistently work, the Rockets would need a replacement for most of Tucker’s current minutes at power forward, and there doesn’t seem to be an in-house solution for that.
So while Morey will undoubtedly listen to offers, it’s hard to see a Capela deal getting to the finish line without a ready-made upgrade to the current rotation. And a team such as the Hawks, who have the league’s second-worst record at 13-36, probably won’t be able to provide that.
Atlanta could offer future draft compensation, but considering Houston’s clear win-now emphasis, that’s unlikely to be all that attractive. Thus, any deal would most likely have to involve at least three teams, with the third team offering the Rockets more immediate frontcourt help.
Thus, as Charania suggests, a Capela deal by the Feb. 6 deadline seems unlikely — since several variables would all need to line up perfectly.
For now, the Rockets’ primary focus is on Friday night’s home game versus Dallas, with tip-off scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Central time from Toyota Center. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN.
Both the Rockets and Mavericks enter Friday’s game with identical 29-18 records, tied for No. 5 in the Western Conference playoff race.
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