NBA Rumors: Clint Capela on Hawks Trade Block Entering Contract Year amid Lakers Buzz
Joseph Zucker@@JosephZucker
Featured Columnist IVJuly 18, 2024
Atlanta Hawks center Clint Capela is "on the trade market," according to ESPN's Zach Lowe.
Capela was the subject of rumors ahead of the 2024 NBA trade deadline. The Houston Rockets and New Orleans Pelicans were both linked as interested parties.
While the 30-year-old big man wound up staying in Atlanta, that might have simply delayed the inevitable.
The Hawks hit the reset button when they traded Dejounte Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans. They're not necessarily rebuilding and should be in the conversation for a play-in berth. However, their ceiling is much lower now than it was with the backcourt partnership of Murray and Trae Young.
That makes Capela a logical candidate to move since he's due to be a free agent in 2025.
Atlanta may not be all that keen on re-signing him when it already committed a four-year extension to fellow center Onyeka Okongwu, so trading him would allow the team to recoup some value. For interested suitors, taking on his $22.3 million expiring salary is also a little more attractive than assuming the $45.9 million over two years that would've come with a swap last season.
Capela is averaging 12.3 points, 10.7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks for his career. He's a solid defender and rim-runner who could help a playoff contender.
In June, The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor posited the Los Angeles Lakers could look at Capela to help fortify their depth at center, while Action Network's Matt Moore mentioned the Memphis Grizzlies as a logical landing spot as well.
It sounds like finding a workable deal remains a challenge for Atlanta, though.
"The Hawks have been trying to trade Clint Capela for more than a year, but league sources say that the Atlanta big man drawing the most external interest is newly acquired Larry Nance Jr.," NBA insider Marc Stein reported on July 11.
Given the apparent lack of traction, a midseason trade could be more likely than something happening before opening night. Opposing teams could have a more pressing need to add a center closer to the 2025 deadline, and the Hawks' asking price will have to come down since Capela will be just months out from entering the market.
