Add the Sacramento Kings to the list of teams pursuing Houston Rockets center Clint Capela, who appears to be very much on the trade block heading into Thursday’s NBA trade deadline.
ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski broke the story Sunday night that the Rockets were actively engaged in talks with several Eastern Conference teams, including Atlanta, in deals involving Capela.
As of Monday morning, it seems at least one Western Conference team can be added to the potential list. From The Athletic‘s Shams Charania:
Robert Covington, Clint Capela and Derrick Rose are other names to watch. Houston has discussed Capela packages with Atlanta and Sacramento, league sources said.
Knicks registering interest in Warriors star D’Angelo Russell — More on @TheAthleticNBA: https://t.co/GYXDKUw3qD
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 3, 2020
Charania also explains in the story that Houston continues to show interest in Minnesota forward Robert Covington:
Minnesota has been engaged in talks regarding Covington, whose suitors include Dallas, Houston and Milwaukee, according to sources. The Mavericks and Rockets discussed potential deals for Covington in the offseason, with the Mavericks having their 2020 Golden State second-rounder and the Rockets dangling future first-round compensation.
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Specific terms of potential trades were not disclosed, though it seems there’s a general framework that the Rockets are primarily looking for draft compensation from a team such as the Hawks or Kings for Capela. From there, Houston could use those draft assets to help acquire the wing player they reportedly crave from another team, such as Covington.
Marc Stein of The New York Times reported late Sunday that Houston was at “the front of the line” for Covington, along with Philadelphia.
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It could potentially take a three-team trade or a series of separate deals for Rockets GM Daryl Morey to land all that he desires, which could include a forward and also a fill-in center to help replace Capela’s size.
NBA sources confirm the #Rockets are in talks with several Eastern Conference teams in an effort to trade Clint Capela to potentially acquire the draft assets needed to land a forward & a center prior to the trade deadline. Reported first by @wojespn.
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) February 3, 2020
In Wojnarowski’s latest story on Houston’s “serious engagement” in Capela trade talks, he writes:
The Rockets are engaged in three-way trade possibilities that might allow for them to use Capela to gather the draft assets needed to acquire an impact wing player, league sources said.
In talks around the league, the Rockets are expressing hope they can find a deal — or a series of deals — that would bring them back a wing and a center for Capela by Thursday’s 3 p.m. ET trade deadline, sources said.
ESPN story on Houston’s serious engagement in trade talks centered on Clint Capela. https://t.co/jLahRmpICu
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 3, 2020
At just 25 years old, the 6-foot-10 Capela is averaging 13.9 points (62.9% shooting), 13.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks in 32.8 minutes per game this season. His per-game rebounding total is fourth in the league.
Capela is also under contract for three more seasons after the current 2019-20 campaign. That, combined with his age, makes him a plausible fit for both contenders and rebuilding teams, since he wouldn’t be a threat to leave his new destination in free agency until 2023.
As far as the Rockets are concerned, head coach Mike D’Antoni seems to believe in the model of maximum floor spacing for superstar guards James Harden and Russell Westbrook with potential 3-point shooters at all positions, even if it costs them size and rebounding.
Mike D'Antoni on small unit (continued): "We're just trying to open it up for James and Russ to get to the rim so we can get layups. Those are the best shots. That lineup permits that." pic.twitter.com/ssFL39A3q0
— Salman Ali (@SalmanAliNBA) February 1, 2020
In Capela’s last three games missed, the Rockets have started usual power forward P.J. Tucker at center while inserting Danuel House Jr. to Tucker’s vacated spot. They’re 3-0 in those games, including wins over two probable Western Conference playoff teams in Utah and Dallas.
Overall, Houston is 9-1 (.900) in the 10 games that Capela has missed due to injury or illness this season. In the one loss, which came Dec. 29 in New Orleans, both Harden and Westbrook did not play.
Capela is currently day-to-day with a nagging right heel contusion, but it isn’t the type of long-term injury that could derail trade talks.
Coach D’Antoni said Clint Capela’s heel injury is more “day-to-day”. He’s OUT for today’s game.
— Alykhan Bijani (@Rockets_Insider) February 2, 2020
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The Rockets (31-18), who are intent on contending for the NBA title this season with a pair of former MVPs in Harden and Westbrook, have one more game to be played before Thursday’s trade deadline.
That comes Tuesday night, when the Charlotte Hornets (16-33) visit Houston. At this juncture, be it for injury reasons, trade talks, or both, it would seem unlikely for Capela to play in that game. The 2020 deadline then arrives less than 48 hours later on Thursday afternoon.
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Ambitious as it sounds, Minnesota has sought two first-round picks in exchange for Robert Covington in advance of Thursday's trade deadline, league sources say. Let's see where the Wolves land if/when they actually deal him, with Philly and Houston at the front of the RoCo line
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 3, 2020