The Houston Rockets are among the clear winners of the NBA offseason so far. With the blockbuster trade to acquire Kevin Durant and savvy offseason moves to land Dorian Finney-Smith and Clint Capela while retaining most of their key players, the Rockets took a big step forward to contender status next season.
Understandably, plenty of attention has been given to the Durant trade due to his being a former NBA MVP and Champion. However, the best value acquisition may have been the most unexpected move the Rockets made this summer.
Clint Capela Has the Chance to Be Rockets' Best-Value Signing
The Clint Capela signing, which cost the Rockets $21.1 million in a three-year deal, has the chance to be the most team-friendly deal Houston signed all offseason.
Capela is admittedly not the same player he once was earlier in his career. In his first six seasons in the NBA as a Rocket, he was one of the best pick-and-roll centers and lob threats in the league. At age 31, his athleticism and finishing have waned, but he remains an effective center on both ends of the floor. He has been a competent starter for Atlanta, continuing his dominance on the boards, protecting the rim, and finishing around the basket.
This makes him a quality rotation player. For only $6.7 million for next season, that is a total bargain, as there are players who make significantly more than that who don't bring the two-way play that Capela brings.
In 664 games between his Rockets and Hawks tenures, the 6-foot-10 big man has averaged 12.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks while shooting 61.7% from the field.
Besides, the Rockets need and expect Capela to play a big role. The recently extended Steven Adams is unlikely to play extended minutes as the Rockets ideally want to keep him fresh for the postseason. Head coach Ime Udoka wants to play two-big lineups that proved to be effective in the playoffs last season, making Capela a fascinating fit next to star big man Alperen Sengun.
Unlike Adams and Sengun, Capela is a roll man who can finish lobs. He has his weaknesses outside the paint and at the free-throw line, but he provides an element the Rockets have been missing for the past few seasons. For that alone, he will be worth every penny and then some for Houston next season.