Clint Capela returned to the Houston Rockets this offseason after a five-year sabbatical as an Atlanta Hawk, but his time in Houston could come to a close. The Rockets are in win-now mode, as Kevin Durant is 37 and could begin his age-related decline at any time. Capela cannot be traded until December 15th, but he will be shopped after this date.
While Durant still has the gas in the tank to compete this season, Capela looks done as a productive NBA player. He’s averaged just 3.5 points and 4.7 boards in his 11 minutes a game, which is essentially replacement-value production. If the Rockets moved on from Capela, they could easily replace those lost rebounds with a younger player who has greater vertical pop and energy.
The problem is that he was just signed to a fully guaranteed three-year, $21 million deal this offseason. This isn’t just a bad contract; it could be one of the worst in the league. (I’ve been a fan of Capela since his original Houston days, so believe me when I tell you it pains me to say this.)
Capela’s contract is the perfect size to send him to basketball purgatory
The Rockets could use a roster refresh. Reed Sheppard has impressed in the injured Fred VanVleet’s absence, but the team could use a veteran point guard to help solve its turnover problem. The team has struggled as a whole from two point range, but shoots inside the arc at a disproportionately high rate. This could open room for a physical slasher to bump the Rockets’ two point clip.
Capela’s $6.7 million deal is the perfect size to package with a pick or two for a high-level bench player. The potential trade target that comes to mind is T.J. McConnell of the Indiana Pacers. McConnell is the anti-Reed Sheppard – a savvy veteran who can be relied upon to make good decisions and serve as a steady offensive leader. The Pacers would win back Capela, who was one of the best rebounders and defenders in the league for five years, to mentor the young frontcourt of Isaiah Jackson and Jay Huff.
The Rockets would have to include two of their minimum extension players, most likely Jae’Sean Tate and Aaron Holiday (assuming they opt to keep Uncle Jeff Green on the roster as a mentor). This isn’t the sexiest move, but this would be a win for all parties. Capela would ride out his NBA career mentoring the next generation; McConnell would move to a competitive team while he’s a positive player; the Rockets get a reliable point guard; and the Pacers trade win-now players for win-later assets.
If Houston opts to make a trade at the deadline, which seems increasingly likely with each day as their team becomes solidified as a tier below the Thunder, Capela will be the man to go.