Soaring Down South
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NBA Free Agency: Should the Hawks Sign Clint Capela?

By Chris Guest

HOUSTON, TX - MAY 16: Clint Capela #15 of the Houston Rockets before the game against the Golden State Warriors in Game Two of the Western Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 16, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - MAY 16: Clint Capela #15 of the Houston Rockets before the game against the Golden State Warriors in Game Two of the Western Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 16, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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As almost all teams have undertaken plenty of new contracts in 2018 NBA Free Agency, the Atlanta Hawks have obstinately remained quiet in the market.

Many big deals have taken place in 2018 free agency, but one player who remains out in the cold is the Rockets’ big man Clint Capela, who is a restricted free agent this offseason.

The Rockets have had a rather difficult free agency period, as they missed on the biggest fish of all time LeBron James, who opted for the glitz and glamor of Los Angeles as a member of the storied Lakers franchise (a situation the Hawks might be able to help with).

Looking past that slim chance of landing The King, the Rockets also lost two key members of their rotation from the 2017-18 season: Trevor Ariza and Luc-Richard Mbah a Moute, who signed with the Suns and Clippers, respectively.

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Beyond that, the team is in danger of losing Capela who seemingly broke out in the 2018 playoffs – outplaying the likes of Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert consecutively. Capela was reportedly looking for a 4-year/$100 million deal, but the Rockets only offered 4 years at $60 million, according to Tim Macmahon from ESPN.

This is where the Hawks could jump in. After the Chicago Bulls inked their restricted free agent Zach LaVine to a huge 4-year/$81 million deal, the Hawks are one of the few teams with a lot of cap space still available – roughly $23 million worth of it – with which they could put in an offer for Capela’s much-needed services.

Many fans and pundits expected the Hawks to dip into the extremely deep big men group at the top of this draft class, which included high-upside talents like DeAndre Ayton, Mohamed Bamba, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Wendell Carter Jr.

Instead they opted for a ballhandler, drafting their point guard of the future in Trae Young at 5th overall. That leaves a rather gaping hole at center, where they have Dewayne Dedmon, Mike Muscala and Miles Plumlee on the roster for next season. Beyond that… the team is currently taking applications.