For the third time in under a week, the Houston Rockets won Sunday with starting center Clint Capela out due to a heel injury.
It appears that undersized lineup, which offers added floor spacing with 3-point shooters at all five positions, might not be a passing fad.
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According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Rockets were engaged Sunday with multiple Eastern Conference teams — including Atlanta — in trade talks regarding their 25-year-old big man. The NBA’s trade deadline comes at 2 p.m. Central time on this Thursday, Feb. 6.
While the Rockets and GM Daryl Morey might not can get the object of their desires from a trade with a rebuilding team, it seems they’re interested in repackaging a draft asset for Capela from a team such as the Hawks in another deal for the type of wing player they reportedly crave.
Capela could be a way for the Rockets to get the draft asset(s) the team needs to flip for a wing player, per sources. Rockets talks around the league suggest they'd like to acquire a wing and a center before deadline. https://t.co/DhyeBOl2eV
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 3, 2020
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At just 25 years old, 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 potential 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 floor spacing for superstar guards James Harden and Russell Westbrook, 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
Over Capela’s last three absences, 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.
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
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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