NBA Rumors: Clint Capela wants to play for Houston Rockets this season
With the 25th-overall pick in the first round of Thursday night’s 2014 NBA Draft, the Houston Rockets selected Swiss big man Clint Capela.
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At just 20 years old, Capela is raw so most believed the Rockets would keep him stashed overseas for a few years to keep their cap clear as they pursue the likes of LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony.
That isn’t Capela’s plan.
According to Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle, Capela hopes to play for the Rockets this season.
"Capela, who just turned 20, could remain overseas for several years. That will save the Rockets a small bit of the cap room they hope to use on free-agent targets like LeBron James or Carmelo Anthony. The 25th pick is slotted to earn roughly $991,000, but since empty roster spots have a cap hold of $500,000, choosing a player who would be on next season’s roster would not have cost the Rockets much extra cap space. Capela, however, said he hopes to join the Rockets this season and that the team knew of his plans. “I want to come this year and really work hard here,” said Capela, who compared his game to Oklahoma City forward Serge Ibaka. “I can really run the floor,” Capela said. “I can play tough. I can do this with regularity. I think I need to build up my physicality and my medium-range shot.”"
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.