One NBA writer is proposing that the Atlanta Hawks trade center Clint Capela to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Dan Favale of Bleacher Report proposed that the Hawks send Capela and the 15th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft to the Thunder for guard/forward Lindy Waters III, the 12th overall pick in the 2023 draft and a 2024 first-round pick.
“Flipping Capela for a cheap motion shooter (Waters), a three-spot jump in this year’s draft and a lottery-protected pick isn’t sexy,” Favale wrote. “Maybe Atlanta can get more. But for all his value on the glass and around the basket, Capela is past his athletic prime and limited on the offensive end. Shaving almost $20 million off next year’s books is part of the value here, too.
“The Thunder are looking at $30-plus million in cap space they’re unlikely to actually spend. They’d probably prefer to burn flexibility on a combo forward, but they also need to get bigger up front, period. Capela accomplishes that while coming off the books before their core gets expensive, and a healthy Chet Holmgren has the spacing and ball skills to play alongside him.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Clint Capela, Atlanta Hawks & Oklahoma City Thunder Updates
Capela averaged 12.0 points and 11.0 rebounds this season for the Hawks while shooting 65.3% from the field. The 29-year-old signed a two-year, $45.5 million contract extension with Atlanta in September 2021. Capela, who began his career with the Houston Rockets, will make $20.6 million next season.
The Hawks lost to the Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs in six games. Capela averaged 8.3 points and 8.3 rebounds in the six-game series. However, he had a plus-minus of -8 in Game 1, -5 in Game 2, -6 in Game 5 and -13 in Game 6.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Clint Capela, Atlanta Hawks & Oklahoma City Thunder Updates
“This roster, as currently constructed, isn’t good enough” Favale wrote. “That’s left many scrambling to find John Collins trades. And that practice will endure. But Capela himself could become collateral damage. His contract is shorter (two years, $42.9 million), and the Hawks have a(n undersized) replacement behind him in Onyeka Okongwu.”
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