Bruno Caboclo played only sparingly after being acquired by Houston at the February trade deadline. In all, prior to the 2019-20 NBA season’s COVID-19 hiatus, he played just 28 minutes across five games for the Rockets, typically in mop-up duty once a game had already been decided.
But in an interview with Sports Illustrated’s Will Laws, the athletic 6-foot-9 big man with a 7-foot-7 wingspan now says he sees an opportunity.
I think this year on the Rockets, I wouldn’t have had much playing time, depending on the situation. But I think the coronavirus actually helps me because when we go back, everyone’s gonna have the same chance starting from zero. So I’ll be more prepared to try and get a role for the playoffs.
“Right now, I’m on the edge. I could be out of the league or I could secure myself if I play well."
Bruno Caboclo knows his time is running out to make good on his potential that made him the No. 20 overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft, writes @WillLaws https://t.co/oLgs2dTKI0
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) May 23, 2020
To that point, Caboclo was one of the first Rockets back in the team’s facility once Toyota Center reopened to players for individual workouts.
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Though Caboclo is taller than every current rotation player for the smaller Rockets, it should be noted that he’s not the type of traditional big man that head coach Mike D’Antoni and GM Daryl Morey are choosing to move away from. He shot 36.9% from 3-point range a season ago, and at 218 pounds, he’s light enough to defend on the perimeter on switches.
That’s part of why Houston traded for Caboclo at the deadline, after moving Clint Capela for Robert Covington and committing to “small ball.”
Caboclo didn’t stand out in his limited playing time with the Rockets in February and March, but there were extenuating circumstances. First, as Caboclo explained to SI, he was behind the curve when it came to learning his new team and their system on the fly. Second, he was coming off a knee injury that had kept him off the court for weeks.
By contrast, if the season resumes in July as expected, the 24-year-old will have had several months off to get his knee fully healthy. If that’s the case, he could be a viable option behind starting center P.J. Tucker.
“I want to be able to score on every possible level—layups, box out for rebounds and put backs, on the crease, pull-up jumpers—everything,” Caboclo told Sports Illustrated in the interview. “I believe that I can play at the highest level and do big things in the NBA. I think some people see my talent. I just need to get on the right team.”
Bruno Caboclo says he’s learned a lot more about “playing as a center” since his prior stint in Houston, adding that he gained confidence with minutes in the Memphis rotation. #Rockets #OneMission
Bruno says he pays close attention to opposing bigs and how they do things: pic.twitter.com/ygLYkJDPEq
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) February 9, 2020
After being selected No. 20 overall in the 2014 NBA Draft, Caboclo finally got his first extended opportunity in 34 games with Memphis late last season. In that stretch, Caboclo averaged 8.3 points and 4.6 rebounds in 23.5 minutes per game, along with shooting 36.9% on 3-pointers.
It remains to be seen if Caboclo can earn the same opportunity in Houston. If he doesn’t, he’ll be a free agent this offseason with another chance to get to “the right team.” But before thinking about free agency, he’s fully committed to trying to earn a role with the 2019-20 Rockets.
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