20 things to look forward to this NBA offseason

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 10: Arizona forward Deandre Ayton (13) reacts to a call during the championship game of the mens Pac-12 Tournament between the USC Trojans and the Arizona Wildcats on March 10, 2018, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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HOUSTON, TX – MAY 16: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors dribbles the ball defended by Clint Capela #15 of the Houston Rockets in the second half during Game Two of the Western Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center on May 16, 2018 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

8. Will Clint Capela get maxed out?

After a breakout 2017-18 campaign, Clint Capela should be headed toward a hefty payday this summer.

Before the Phoenix Suns won the NBA draft lottery, Kelly Iko of Rockets Wire reported the they had “kept tabs on [Capela] throughout the season, and have reportedly become ‘enamored with him.'” They reportedly had “plans to offer Capela a max or near-max contract once free agency begins,” according to Iko.

Now that they appear likely to draft Deandre Ayton with the No. 1 overall pick, center will no longer be an area of need for them. However, the Lakers, Mavericks, Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks all lurk as teams with copious cap space and a long-term hole at center.

Even if Capela does secure a max offer sheet from another team, the Rockets aren’t likely to let him go.

“We’ll have him here as long as he’ll have us,” Rockets general manager Daryl Morey told ESPN.com’s Tim MacMahon in November . “He couldn’t price himself out.”

The big man averaged a career-high 13.9 points on 65.2 percent shooting, 10.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in only 27.5 minutes per game, and he has the lateral quickness to execute Houston’s switch-everything defensive scheme. He should have no shortage of interest on the free-agent market, which makes his next contract a fascinating subplot to monitor this offseason.

Next: 7. How much does Zach LaVine get offered?

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