Houston Rockets sign Clint Capela, will play in 2014
The Houston Rockets made the biggest splash of the offseason in both 2012 and 2013. In 2012, they agreed to a deal to acquire guard James Harden from the Oklahoma City Thunder and gave him a five-year, $80 million deal. Then, last year, they pulled off another coup, signing former Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers’ center Dwight Howard to a four-year, $88 million deal.
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The Rockets wanted to duplicate that success in 2014 and eyed both LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony. They focused on Anthony, quickly realizing signing James was not a realistic possibility, but Anthony, of course, re-signed with the Knicks. They then turned their attention to Chris Bosh, but he re-upped with the Miami Heat. They wound up signing Trevor Ariza to a four-year, $32 million deal but lost Chandler Parsons to the Dallas Mavericks in the process.
It was originally believed one of the reasons the Rockets used the 25th-overall pick on big man Clint Capela of Switzerland to they could keep him stashed in Europe for the year, but after the offseason, the Rockets changed their mind.
According to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports, Capela has signed with the Rockets and is expected to play in the NBA next season.
Rookie forward Clint Capela just signed his rookie contract with the Rockets, a source said.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) July 23, 2014
Also, Rockets rookie forward Clint Capela is expected to be on the team's roster next season, not overseas, a source told Yahoo.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) July 23, 2014
Capela averaged 9.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.2 assists per game while shooting 63.2% from the field and 58.2% from the free throw line in the French League lass season. At the 2014 Nike Hoops Summit, he measured in at 6’11 and 222 lbs. with a wingspan of 7’4.5.