The Dallas Mavericks are interested in acquiring center Clint Capela from the Atlanta Hawks, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports.
“In Atlanta, the Hawks will continue to explore trade scenarios for Collins. That has so far included preliminary talks with Dallas about swapping Collins and the No. 15 pick in the draft with the Mavericks for the No. 10 pick and Dāvis Bertāns,” Fischer wrote.
“Those talks did not develop very far, sources said, and Dallas indicated it would be more willing to consider that deal if Hawks center Clint Capela was the returning player from Atlanta,” Fischer explained.
Capela averaged 12.0 points and 11.0 rebounds this past 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.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Clint Capela, Atlanta Hawks & Dallas Mavericks Updates
The Hawks lost to the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 2023 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.
The Mavericks need a new center since they will not be re-signing Christian Wood, according to NBA insider Marc Stein. Capela does most of his damage on lob dunks and Dallas has two of the past drivers and passers in the league in Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Clint Capela, Atlanta Hawks & Dallas Mavericks Updates
“Thursday marked the one-year anniversary of Dallas’ trade to acquire Christian Wood in exchange for the 26th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft (which Houston used to acquire the draft rights to Wendell Moore Jr.) and the contracts of veterans Sterling Brown, Trey Burke, Marquese Chriss and Boban Marjanović,” Stein wrote. “Wood is bound for unrestricted free agency with the Mavericks, as I reported here April 9 and have subsequently reconfirmed this week, not expected to make him an offer to return.
“The Mavericks, sources say, have moved on and are looking to remake their center rotation.”
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