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Atlanta Hawks Fans: Don’t Forget About Clint Capela

By Dallin Duffy

HOUSTON, TX - MARCH 17: Clint Capela #15 of the Houston Rockets greets fans after the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Toyota Center on March 17, 2019 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. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - MARCH 17: Clint Capela #15 of the Houston Rockets greets fans after the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Toyota Center on March 17, 2019 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. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Hawks fans shouldn’t forget about the exciting Clint Capela.

The Atlanta Hawks’ season begins in just over a week, finally giving fans a glimpse of their revamped roster. The additions of Danilo Gallinari, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Rajon Rondo highlight their busy fall which also saw the team add a handful of solid role players.

But all these moves are somewhat overshadowed by what is perhaps the biggest acquisition they made: Clint Capela.

This move being a bit overlooked by now is understandable: it happened nine months ago at the trade deadline. Capela was hurt at the time and was just about to make his debut with the team before COVID-19 ended the Hawks’ season.

While Gallinari and Bogdanovic are very fun additions, Capela has the best chance of being the team’s best third-best player (behind Trae Young and John Collins).

During his time in Houston, Capela starred despite a more-than-questionable fit (the team traded him to officially go all-in on small ball). A dynamic rebounder and rim protector, he proved to be a top-10 center when healthy.

The buzz was expectedly there when the team made the trade in February, especially given his fit. Many noted that the lob threat would mesh great with the brilliant-passing Young. Adding an elite pick-and-roll option will give the team another flair on offense.

But his biggest strength is his defense, exactly what the Atlanta Hawks need. The 6-foot-10 big man has great shot-blocking instincts and has a rare blend of size and speed that allows him to effectively defend multiple positions.

It’s no secret the Hawks struggled defensively in past seasons and the additions of offensive aces Gallinari and Bogdanovic didn’t exactly help with that. Kris Dunn and Onyeka Okongwu will help, but Capela will be the face and leader of the Hawks’ defense which should be much improved.

Defense may be his biggest strength but this is not to say he’s a poor rebounder. Quite the opposite, actually. He has averaged double-digit boards per game each season since 2017, including a career-high 13.8 per game last year.

Only six teams in the league had fewer rebounds than the Hawks in 2019-20 and he should really help them vault up in that category.

Caplea is a solid player, but his addition to the Atlanta Hawks is very exciting as his strengths perfectly overlap with the Hawks’ weaknesses. And while it’s okay to get excited about all the other moves, don’t forget about the center. He has All-Star potential.

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