Houston Rockets secure Clint Capela with a bargain deal
The Houston Rockets signed Clint Capela for five years and $90 million, which is somehow a really cheap deal in today’s NBA.
Houston’s national nightmare has finally ended. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Rockets and center Clint Capela agreed to a five-year deal worth $90 million.
The Rockets were never in any real danger of losing Capela, who entered this offseason as a restricted free agent. Worst case scenario was Capela signing his one-year, $4.7 million qualifying offer. Had he done so, he would have been an unrestricted free agent next summer. Another team could have thrown as offer sheet at the center, but the weeks dragged on, less teams had the money to spend. Any potential offer sheet likely would have been matched by general manager Daryl Morey.
Capela averaged 13.9 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks in 74 games as the starter last year. His defensive versatility and rim protection, combined with his offensive chemistry with James Harden, was a big reason for the Rockets success. After losing defenders Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute earlier in the offseason, Houston could not afford to keep Capela unhappy for long.
The deal itself is an absolute steal for Houston. Capela was seeking a deal similar to that of Steven Adams and Rudy Gobert. Adams is set to make $24.1 million this season in Oklahoma City while Utah will pay Gobert $23.2 million. Capela settled for $15.5 million this year with an average salary of $18 million across the five-year deal.
dark. Next. Carmelo Anthony must know he should come off bench
The biggest winner in all of this? Carmelo Anthony. He’s expected to sign for the veteran’s minimum once his buyout is complete. But with Capela leaving some money on the table, what are the chances Melo gets more? While that may not happen, the addition of Carmelo will force Capela to work even harder for his money.