The Rockets’ patience with Clint Capela is already paying dividends

Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports

In the age of social media geniuses and a plethora of Twitter general managers, many fans have an unrealistic expectation of rookies as they come into the league.

The Rockets have a more laid back approach when it comes to their young talent. In the 2013 NBA Draft, they snagged Isaiah Canaan with the 34th pick. While he showed signs of being able to contribute with the big club, he spent much of his time (18 games) with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the D-League during his rookie season.

In last year’s draft, Daryl Morey and Co. selected Clint Capela with the 25th overall pick, and it’s clear they have a deliberate plan for his development.

Capela is only 20 years old, but he came into the draft with three years of professional basketball under his belt. He played in France’s top league for Chalon and peaked in the 2013-14 season when he averaged 9.8 points and 6.8 rebounds in only 21 minutes per contest.

Morey’s original plan was to stow Capela away in France for a season or two, but the Rockets were able to work on a buyout and get a FIBA letter of clearance. While many clubs like to let international prospects develop overseas, it’s clear that the Rockets wanted Capela stateside, so that he could take in their system and be comfortable with it sooner rather than later.

Clint Capela month-to-month stats from the 2014/15 D-League season

Capela’s development was put on the back burner due to the fact that he missed summer league and training camp with a groin injury. Even when the season started, they brought him along slowly due to the nagging nature of his injury. Capela spent most of his rookie season with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the D-League, playing 38 games for the club. He averaged 16.1 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.0 blocks in only 24.5 minutes! His per 100 possession numbers are bananas: 27.9 points, 16.9 rebounds and 5.2 blocks per contest.

Needless to say, Capela is causing excitement within the Rockets organization and for fans who love his attacking style. He came into the draft with some concerns that he settles too often for jump shots, but it has always been very clear that his strong suit is attacking the basket with his long frame.

Clint Capela’s shot chart while playing for RGV Vipers in 2014/15

NBA clubs are utilizing the D-League more than ever for development of their young players (record 195 assignments this season) and the Rockets are certainly at the forefront of that movement. While some teams choose to develop certain areas that players need work on, the Rockets let Capela continue to improve upon his strengths that are already in place. As you can see from the chart above, Capela wasn’t sent to Rio Grande Valley to work on his mid-range game or 3-point shot — he was sent for one reason: to attack the rim with reckless abandon.

Need more proof that the shot chart? Capela made 253 baskets in the D-League and 224 of those were layups or dunks — that’s 89 percent of his made field goals! When he did decide to take a jump shot, it wasn’t too successful, as he shot 14-for-84 for a whopping 17 percent. All in all, Capela had three made field goals outside of eight feet — if that doesn’t paint the picture for you then I don’t think much else will.

Capela has shown flashes of pick and roll brilliance both in the D-League and in the NBA this season, but he is still quite raw. He turns 21 in a couple of days, so even though this is technically his fourth professional season he still has time to improve and become a rotational player for the Rockets.

Hopefully we will see Capela on the roster for the Rockets during summer league, and depending on his development we could see his dunking exploits much more in the NBA in 2015-16.