Houston Rockets: Projecting the starting five for 2017-18

Center

I was irrationally happy when the Rockets selected Clint Capela and I firmly believe that it was one of the best lowkey moves the franchise has ever made. Capela was the best advanced stats player in his entry draft and his rapid progress in Houston is showcasing the foresight in the pick. At 22 years old, Capela is a 12 point and 8 rebound center with great defensive instincts.

Playing with Paul and Harden should see his points per game take a sharp rise. Capela figures to be a key part of the Rockets pick and roll offense. Don’t expect to see Clint try to stretch his game out to provide more room for Harden and Paul to work, however. Despite D’Antoni’s preference for floor spacing, range doesn’t seem to be an important emphasis for Capela’s development.

Next: Why the '95 Rockets could've beat Bulls with Jordan

What to watch out for?

Offensive rebounding is the next step for Capela. His offensive rebound rate is at roughly half his defensive rebounding rate. At eight boards per game and the increased volume of shots the Rockets should anticipate with Paul’s addition, Capela will be critical to securing additional opportunities for this team. If he does that, expect the Rockets to feature three double double players – Paul, Harden, and Capela.