NBA rumors: Embiid team switch, Mavs eyeing trade, Simmons back

NBA Rumors: Mavs eyeing trade for Hawks’ Clint Capela

The Atlanta Hawks are expected to listen to Clint Capela trade offers in the coming weeks. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Dallas Mavericks are a team to watch.

For the Mavs, Capela presents a quick solution to their center problem. The odds of No. 12 pick Dereck Lively II playing consistent, winning basketball as a rookie are slim. Otherwise, the Mavs’ center rotation is pretty dire. Dwight Powell, Richaun Holmes, and Maxi Kleber are all NBA bigs, but are any of them starting caliber NBA bigs? Probably not.

Capela is no longer the defensive world-beater of his prime Houston days, but he can still vacuum up rebounds and nimbly defend the paint. On the offensive end, Capela is a tried and true lob threat with years of pick-and-roll experience playing alongside some of the best passers in the NBA. James Harden, Chris Paul, Trae Young — Luka Doncic is the logical next step.

The Hawks, meanwhile, are stuck between two conflicting goals. Ownership is cheap and the roster is littered with promising young talent. On the other hand, Trae Young and Dejounte Murray demand a win-now timeline.

Either way, Capela has two years and $45.9 million left on his contract. Atlanta has to pay Onyeka Okongwu soon and he’s ready to take over the reins in the starting lineup. The Hawks already shipped out John Collins to clear room for A.J. Griffin and Jalen Johnson. It’s not hard to see the direction the team is trending.

The Mavs probably aren’t the only team interested in Capela, but few teams need him more urgently. One has to imagine the two sides will hammer out a deal before the season. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.