With the NBA’s 2019-20 trade deadline just three days away, the Boston Celtics are the latest team to reportedly show interest in Houston Rockets center Clint Capela, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Other teams that had previously been identified as Capela suitors include the Atlanta Hawks and Sacramento Kings.
The Rockets are said to be seeking a wing player in their moves, as well as a fill-in center to help replace Capela’s size. In Wojnarowski’s tweets on Monday afternoon, he identified Robert Covington in Minnesota and Andre Iguodala in Memphis as potential targets. Both could be attainable for Houston, given Capela’s outgoing salary of over $16 million.
Since it wouldn’t seem that the Timberwolves with Karl-Anthony Towns and the Grizzlies with Jonas Valanciunas need a center such as Capela, that is likely why Rockets GM Daryl Morey is looking for third-team partners such as the Hawks, Kings, or Celtics.
The draft compensation from one of those teams for Capela could then be flipped to a team such as Minnesota or Memphis.
Both Covington and Iguodala, who are best known for their wing defense, have been rumored Houston targets for months.
At just 25 years old, the 6-foot-10 Capela is averaging 13.9 points (62.9% shooting), 13.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks in 32.8 minutes per game this season. His per-game rebounding total is fourth in the league.
Capela is also under contract for three more seasons after the current 2019-20 campaign. That, combined with his age, makes him a plausible fit for both contenders and rebuilding teams, since he wouldn’t be a threat to leave his new destination in free agency until 2023.
As for Houston, with Capela missing several games of late with a minor heel injury, the Rockets have started usual power forward P.J. Tucker at center while inserting Danuel House Jr. to Tucker’s vacated spot.
They’re 3-0 in that recent small-ball stretch, including wins over two likely Western Conference playoff teams in Utah and Dallas.
Overall, Houston is 9-1 (.900) in the 10 games that Capela has missed due to injury or illness this season. In the one loss, both All-Star guards James Harden and Russell Westbrook did not play.
Led by head coach Mike D’Antoni, the Rockets seem to be prioritizing maximum floor spacing for Harden and Westbrook with potential 3-point shooters at most or all positions, even if it costs them size.
The Rockets have one more game before Thursday’s trade deadline, which arrives at 2 p.m. Central time in Houston.
That next game comes Tuesday night at home versus Charlotte, with Capela again expected to sit out due to his heel injury.
