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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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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – APRIL 23: Clint Capela (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – APRIL 23: Clint Capela (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Though the league is definitely going in the direction of small ball, a talented and multifaceted big man is still one of the most important positions in the league and Capela has proven himself invaluable as an athletic, rim-running roll man as well as a savage rim protector.

Beyond that, Capela showcased an ability to defend on the perimeter remarkably well for a big man, which is an important skill set if the Hawks were to, I don’t know, make the playoffs during his time with the team (though they’re not particularly close to that level at this juncture).

With both Second Team All-Rookie member John Collins and Omari Spellman likely on the roster for a good while going into the future, they are both slightly undersized for some of the most physically impressive centers in the league. Capela is not lacking in that category, with a rock-solid 6-foot-10, 240-pound frame that looks far more imposing than both Collins and Spellman on the court.

Capela is also coming off his best NBA season in 2017-18, where he saw action in a career-high 74 games and led the entire NBA in field goal percentage (65.2) as well as effective field goal percentage (65.3). He notched career-highs in points per game (13.9), rebounds per game (10.8) and blockers per game (1.9).

He was a hugely important part of the Rockets’ offense, as a gravitational center and James Harden lob target. But it was on defense where Capela truly shone, as he was an absolute force on the less glamorous end – doing the dirty work on the boards and mixing it up with drivers and opposing big men.

Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce has preached a defensive mindset for the team going forward – though the selection of Young and Kevin Huerter does not particularly express that same idea.

However, if Atlanta were to add Capela in free agency, that defensive-minded play style would immediately come into play, and the team would have an extremely athletic frontcourt going forward with Capela at center and Collins at the four (with Spellman coming in on off the bench as a change-of-pace floor spacer at either position).

The Hawks would likely not want to pay Capela the full size of that requested 4-year/$100 million contract he was looking for, but if he projects to be a defensive anchor for years to come – which is certainly within the realm of possibility since Capela is only 24 years old, he might be worth such an immense investment.

Next: Ranking the Hawks 7 Best Young Assets

Free agency has been roiling with rumors and activity, but the Hawks have not jumped into the fray in the slightest. If they were to land one of the best available players, they will have been patient with good reason – though taking on dead money from other teams would also make good use of the team’s offseason.