Injuries impact every NBA season. This year will be no exception. They’re already rearing their ugly head. Teams around the league are having their plans impacted by player injuries.
Look at the New York Knicks. They just lost Mitchell Robinson for at least two months. This is a problem for New York. Robinson is their defensive anchor and one of the most impactful rebounders in the NBA.
How will the Knicks respond? It’s hard to say. Isaiah Hartenstein is a capable backup, but he’s got a different skill set. The Knicks may feel that they still need depth at the position.
If they do, could they acquire Clint Capela from the Atlanta Hawks?
NBA Trade Proposal: New York Knicks Land Atlanta Hawks’ Clint Capela
Atlanta Hawks Receive: G/F Evan Fournier, 2024 Second-Round Pick (DET via NYK), 2025 Second-Round Pick (BKN via NYK), 2027 Second-Round Pick (NYK)
New York Knicks Receive: C Clint Capela
Injuries may impact teams. That pales in comparison to the impact that they have on players. Injuries can derail entire careers. We’ve seen that happen countless times throughout NBA history.
Grant Hill. Penny Hardaway. Greg Oden. Brandon Roy. To one extent or another, injuries robbed these men of their primes. Each had tremendous potential, but their bodies wouldn’t allow them to maximize it.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Clint Capela, Atlanta Hawks, New York Knicks Updates
Luckily, that’s happening less often than it used to happen. Modern medicine is a remarkable thing. These days, injuries are more easily treated. With that in mind, Robinson will probably be fine.
Should the Knicks surrender assets to replace him for two months?
Why The New York Knicks Do The Deal
Sure. After all, the Knicks will be able to trade Capela all over again this summer. They’ve got a surplus of draft capital – they can spare some second-round picks.
The Knicks are in the playoff hunt, and they can’t afford to fall behind. Besides, Capela is good. He’s very similar to Robinson as a player archetype.
Sure, he’s a bit less impactful by just about every measure. Still, he can fill in for Robinson as he rehabs from his injury. Meanwhile, it’s been suggested that Fournier is unhappy in New York.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Clint Capela, Atlanta Hawks, New York Knicks Updates
Sure, his contract expires at the end of the year. Still, a contending team may do well to get an unhappy player out of their locker room.
Should the Hawks welcome Fournier onto their team?
Why The Atlanta Hawks Do The Deal
The Hawks won’t likely be especially interested in adding Fournier. They may be interested in adding his expiring contract.
Capela has an extra year on his deal, and he Hawks seem interested in finding some cap relief. They should also be interested in adding a trio of second-round picks.
Capela is aging and in decline – he may not land the Hawks a first. In that event, this is the next best thing. Three second-round picks are enough assets to land a solid player. Finally, there’s a benefit in getting Capela off of the team – it clears a path for Onyeka Onkongwu.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Clint Capela, Atlanta Hawks, New York Knicks Updates
While Capela is on the decline, Onkongwu is on the rise. He looks like he’ll have a long career as a starter – as long as he stays healthy, of course.
