Tag: Houston Rockets Trades

Report: NBA agents believe Knicks have interest in Russell Westbrook

There hasn’t been any indication that Houston would put Westbrook on the trade market. But if they did, New York reportedly has interest.

NBA agents believe the New York Knicks would have interest in All-Star guard Russell Westbrook, if he were made available by the Houston Rockets, according to a new report from SNY’s Ian Begley.

However, there has yet to be any indication that Rockets GM Daryl Morey would be willing to explore such a transaction.

In his latest notebook, Begley writes:

Some agents who represent top point guard free agents believe the Knicks would poke around on a potential Russell Westbrook trade if Houston makes him available. It’s worth noting that Westbrook, per sources, saw New York as a welcome landing spot last summer when Oklahoma City was talking to teams about potential trades.

Westbrook’s work ethic and drive would have an impact on New York’s young players.

Now 31 years old, Westbrook is under contract with the Rockets for at least two additional seasons (he has a player option on the third year).

A nine-time NBA All-Star and the league’s 2017 MVP,  Westbrook averaged 27.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 7.0 assists in his first season with the Rockets, including a career-best 47.2% shooting clip.

The Rockets have a clear “win now” emphasis, with franchise centerpiece and perennial MVP finalist James Harden now 31 years old, as well. Given that dynamic, as well as the close friendship between Harden and Westbrook and the status of New York’s young roster (the Knicks were just 21-45 last season), it’s hard to see how a deal between the teams would increase Houston’s championship odds in the 2020-21 season.

Nonetheless, should Morey and the Rockets ever decide to change their strategic course, New York’s interest could be a storyline worth remembering. Westbrook’s willingness to play there could also be key, since it’s unlikely that the Rockets would ever trade him somewhere against his will — given Westbrook’s desire to play in Houston.

For now, though, there doesn’t seem to be any traction.

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Report: Mike D’Antoni likely to pick some of his own players for 76ers

If the Sixers hire Mike D’Antoni, he’s likely to pick some of his own players. Might that lead to a trade with his former team in Houston?

If the 76ers hire former Houston Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni as their head coach (and he seems to be the clear frontrunner), the expectation is that he would be able to change Philadelphia’s roster by adding some of his own players, per Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

If that’s the case, it’s hard not to imagine at least some exploratory trade discussions between the Sixers and Rockets — since Houston’s roster has largely been shaped to D’Antoni’s liking for four years.

In a story published Sunday, Pompey writes:

According to multiple sources, Embiid is happy that he’ll face the basket instead of posting up in D’Antoni’s proposed five-out system. D’Antoni’s plan is to move Tobias Harris back to power forward. The Sixers will also make trades if he’s hired, according to reports. The expectation is that he’ll have a say in picking players for his freewheeling style of play.

If the D’Antoni plans to start Embiid and Tobias Harris in the frontcourt, that leaves no room for 6-foot-9 big man Al Horford — who will make $27.5 million next season. That’s a rather high price tag for a reserve. Houston GM Daryl Morey has shown interest in Horford in the past, though with Horford now 34 years old, it isn’t clear if that’s still the case.

As for D’Antoni, he’s spoken in glowing terms about Rockets guard Eric Gordon, and the Sixers could clearly use more volume 3-point shooting if they’re going to run D’Antoni’s preferred system. While Gordon’s salary of roughly $17 million for 2020-21 isn’t enough by itself for Houston to take back Horford (with the Rockets above the salary cap, they have to send out close to as much as they send in), it’s enough as a starting point to get in the ballpark, especially if additional teams are involved.

Known for his versatility on offense and defense, Horford averaged 11.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 4.0 assists in 30.2 minutes last season.

That said, even if a Gordon-Horford deal is too financially challenging to pull off, there are certainly smaller options, as well. What makes sense may also depend on who the Rockets hire as D’Antoni’s successor, and what potentially fits best within that coach’s preferred system.

The Trade NBA website offers a trade machine to explore the various possibilities that are permissible within the league’s salary cap.

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Rockets GM Daryl Morey is already preparing for free agency, trades

“When we do restart, we think it’s going to be rapid,” Morey said. “There won’t be the normal breaks between the season and the offseason.”

In anticipation of a very fast transition from the 2019-20 NBA season to the offseason, Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey says he’s using his downtime during the league’s ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) hiatus to make plans for free agency and potential trades later this year.

Morey made his comments as part of a taped conversation with play-by-play broadcaster Craig Ackerman and head coach Mike D’Antoni.

Morey, who remains optimistic that the 2019-20 season will ultimately be resumed and completed, said in the new interview:

When we do restart, we think it’s going to be rapid. There’s not going to be the normal breaks between the season and the offseason.

So we’re having to do all our free agency prep, potential trade prep. The draft, we don’t know when that will be. It’s probably going to be right after whatever season we have, when it ends. So when we do restart, it’s going to be accelerated. So we need all the planning done up front.

https://www.facebook.com/17729777319/videos/230660664808922

 

The timetable of the 2020 offseason is not yet known, since the usual schedule of the NBA Draft in late June and the opening of free agency on June 30 will likely be pushed back if the league has yet to complete its 2019-20 season by then (unless it is outright canceled).

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In comments last month, Morey said Houston hoped to “add a significant player” this offseason. He noted that the team could use its full Mid-Level Exception (MLE) after the recent trade of Clint Capela for Robert Covington, who will be paid about $5 million less than Capela next year.

Morey did not specify whether he was referring to the taxpayer or non-taxpayer MLE (definitions here). His full comments:

Our [trade] deadline really set us up well. Not only did we shoot for a better structure of our core players, that they fit together better, but also allowed us to be more flexible going forward to add players that we think overall as we allocate our player spending. We were over-weighted at the five spot. This opens up ability to spend at other spots.

The larger MLE (non-taxpayer) — which, if used, hard caps a team at the NBA’s luxury tax apron level — allowed teams to offer contracts starting at $9.3 million last offseason. To this point, the various levels for new contracts in the 2020-21 league year have yet to be established.

Based on what we know now, though, the gap between the contracts of Capela and Covington could make it more feasible for the Rockets to use the larger MLE, fill out their roster, and stay below the apron level.

It’s worth noting that if the NBA cannot resume its 2019-20 season following the current COVID-19 hiatus, that would significantly lessen the league’s basketball revenues for this year. In turn, that could lower the NBA’s team salary thresholds for the 2020-21 season.

In such a scenario, the Rockets might be closer to the luxury tax and apron levels than currently anticipated, which could complicate their ability to use the non-taxpayer MLE.

But for now, the Morey and the Rockets appear optimistic that the 2019-20 season can be salvaged, and that — along with the Covington trade — might also bolster their ability to make a larger addition this offseason. As such, Morey is using his current downtime to prepare for that possibility.

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Daryl Morey to Clint Capela: ‘We watched you grow into a lion’

In a tribute post on Instagram, Rockets GM Daryl Morey thanked former center Clint Capela for his five-plus seasons in Houston.

The Houston Rockets made a pair of trades for long forwards before the NBA’s 2019-20 trade deadline, bringing in Robert Covington from Minnesota and Bruno Caboclo from Memphis.

But as part of those deals, the Rockets sent out 25-year-old big man Clint Capela ⁠— who was the second-longest tenured player on the Houston roster, trailing only franchise centerpiece James Harden.

So while there’s excitement for the looming debut of Covington on Thursday night, there are clearly mixed emotions from many around the Rockets about seeing their longtime starting center depart.

Rockets GM Daryl Morey, who selected Capela in the first round of the 2014 NBA Draft and ultimately made the final call this week on the deal sending Capela to Atlanta, took to Instagram on Thursday to thank Capela for his five-plus years of service to the organization.

Morey wrote:

We watched you grow into a lion. Thank you, Clint.

Veteran guard Eric Gordon, who has played alongside Capela since signing in Houston before the 2016-17 season, seemed to express his emotions with one sad emoji shortly after the trade was announced.

To Morey’s point, in Capela’s 2014-15 rookie campaign, the Swiss big man played in just 12 regular-season NBA games. He averaged 2.7 points (48.3% shooting) and 2.2 rebounds in 7.5 minutes per game, usually in mop-up duty, and spent most of the year in the G League.

This year, the 6-foot-10 Capela has averaged 13.9 points (62.9% shooting) and 13.8 rebounds in 32.8 minutes per game, with that rebounding total ranking fourth in the entire league.

However, the Rockets seem to believe wing defense and floor spacing for their All-Star backcourt of former MVPs (Harden and Russell Westbrook) are more important to their 2019-20 title chances than Capela’s traditional big man values of size, rebounding, and rim protection.

In comments to the Houston Chronicle‘s Jonathan Feigen, Morey explains why he believes the changes boost their championship odds:

Pretty straight forward. The best way to play with our stars that we feel is the one that gives us the best chance to win the championship is with a stretch four, playing up-tempo, shooting, and wing defenders. Robert Covington was for sure the best one available.

Veteran forward P.J. Tucker slides to Capela’s former role as the starting center. The Rockets are 10-1 in games without Capela this season, including a 4-0 run over the last 10 days with Tucker at center. Meanwhile, Covington will take many of the vacated minutes at power forward.

There were reports this week suggesting that in addition to the Covington and Cabaclo acquisitions, the Rockets aimed to also bring in a more traditional center to help replace Capela’s size.

But that type of deal did not transpire by Thursday’s trade deadline, meaning that Morey will probably have to turn to the upcoming buyout market if the Rockets are to address that need. At 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot-7 wingspan, Cabaclo could potentially play minutes at center, though he’s likely out until after the All-Star break with a bone bruise in his left knee.

As for Covington and the current roster’s healthy players, the Rockets (32-18) will debut their new-look lineup Thursday in Los Angeles versus the Lakers (38-11), who have the West’s best record. Tip-off is at 9:30 p.m. Central time, with the game broadcast nationally on TNT.

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Analysis: Rockets, Morey have window to expand Covington trade

With the Covington-Capela trade agreed to but not finalized, Rockets GM Daryl Morey has a unique opportunity to further expand the deal.

The Houston Rockets and GM Daryl Morey have a unique opportunity to expand Tuesday night’s huge trade involving Clint Capela and Robert Covington, which was agreed to in principle but not finalized.

The NBA’s salary cap rules allow teams to take back 125% of their outgoing salary in a trade. In the Covington deal, Gerald Green (to Denver) and Jordan Bell (to Houston) aren’t counting toward that figure, since they’re each being acquired with minimum salary exceptions.

From Houston’s perspective as an above-the-cap team, Capela at $16.5 million, Covington at $11.3 million, and Nene at $2.6 million are the three salaries of significance, since they were all acquired using non-minimum resources. Capela and Nene are both being sent to Atlanta.

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Because Covington makes nearly $8 million less than Capela and Nene combined, the Rockets have the ability to bring in additional salary through an expanded version of the trade.

Based on salaries in the current agreement, the Rockets can add salary up to $5.8 million while still staying below the league’s luxury tax line. If they are willing to pay the tax, they could take back closer to $12 million.

While Tilman Fertitta has reportedly not put any financial restrictions on Morey at this year’s deadline, the Rockets haven’t paid the tax in any of Fertitta’s three seasons to date as owner. Thus, it remains to be seen if they would actually go through with such a move. But even if they do not, $5.8 million is still very much a salary slot of significance.

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Reports prior to the agreement indicated that Morey was aiming to acquire both a wing player (Covington) by Thursday’s trade deadline and a replacement center for Capela. In the deal’s current construction, they have the former but not the latter.

It’s also possible that Houston could turn to the buyout market after the deadline to fill the center need, but it’s unclear at the moment who the available players will be and whether they would choose Houston.

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Thus, as opposed to waiting for the uncertainty of buyouts, Morey and the Rockets might prefer to make another addition via trade. While the Rockets are limited with regards to tradable assets, since Houston’s 2020 first-round pick went to Denver in the Capela trade, other teams could still have incentive to participate in an expanded version because the Rockets are now able to take salary off another team’s books.

As ESPN‘s Wojnarowski indicated, there are two primary paths that Morey could pursue. The first would be searching for a good player (likely a center) that helps now. For one example, acquiring big man Kevon Looney — who the Rockets targeted in last summer’s free agency — would allow the Warriors to avoid the tax, all while not pushing the Rockets over it.

The other possibility, as Wojnarowski notes, is taking on a bad contract for assets. For example, if the Rockets are confident in their ability to lure a rotation center in the buyout market, they could use this salary matching window and their second open roster spot to take on a negatively valued contract. It could be to help a team avoid the luxury tax, or to possibly give them additional cap room for 2020 free agency.

In doing so, the other team could give Houston a future draft pick to help Morey and the Rockets replenish their stockpile of assets, which has been significantly drained in recent months. Between the Covington deal and last offseason’s trade for Russell Westbrook, the Rockets have surrendered three future first-round picks (2020, 2024, 2026).

They’ve also dealt away many of their future second-round picks. This route could allow the Rockets to recoup some of those lost assets.

To get a first-round pick, the salary taken in by Houston would probably need to be higher than $5.8 million — which would push the Rockets into tax territory. But with Fertitta reportedly giving the green light with regards to spending at this year’s trade deadline, it can’t be ruled out.

One potential downside to not immediately finalizing the trade is that Covington won’t be able to play for his new team until the league officially approves the deal, and until all players involved report to their new destinations and pass physicals.

That means it’s very unlikely that Covington will be available for Houston’s upcoming back-to-back, on Thursday in Los Angeles and Friday in Phoenix. But considering the deal’s size and the historically high amount of players involved, that may have been the case no matter what.

Even so, there’s certainly still a path for the Rockets (32-18) to compete without any new players at all, considering they’ve now won six of their last eight games overall — including the last four without Capela. And at the moment, Capela is the only rotation player to depart.

In the meantime, they have until the 2019-20 trade deadline at 2 p.m. Central on Thursday to canvass the league and consider all scenarios. Hours later, the Rockets will tip off against the Lakers (38-11) at 9:30 p.m. Central time from Staples Center.

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Tilman Fertitta reportedly signs off on Rockets’ deadline spending

Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta reportedly isn’t putting any financial restrictions on GM Daryl Morey entering the 2019-20 trade deadline.

Houston GM Daryl Morey will not be limited financially in his attempts to upgrade the Rockets by Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, according to a new report from CNBC’s Jabari Young.

Citing a source, Young writes that Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta has given Morey “full rights” to improve the team at the deadline with no financial restrictions. “Fertitta [is] not happy with team’s current standing and wants to win now,” Young wrote on Twitter.

The previous day, Young quoted league sources as saying that Fertitta wanted to shed payroll in hopes of avoiding the NBA’s luxury tax.

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The Rockets are reportedly shopping center Clint Capela on the trade market while hoping to bring in a wing player and replacement center. They’re also said to be monitoring the potential buyout market, with high-profile targets such as Cleveland big man Tristan Thompson.

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But some of those moves could push Houston into luxury tax territory, leaving many fans wondering just how viable they actually are. In Fertitta’s first two seasons owning the Rockets in 2017-18 and 2018-19, Houston avoided paying the tax.

However, it seems Fertitta could have a different mindset heading into the 2019-20 deadline, with the Rockets (31-18) mired in the No. 5 spot in the Western Conference and perhaps needing further roster upgrades to reach their expected status as an NBA title contender.

The trade deadline arrives at 2 p.m. Central time on Thursday.

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Report: Rockets eye potential Thompson, Kidd-Gilchrist buyouts

Per Kelly Iko, Houston is monitoring Cleveland big man Tristan Thompson and Charlotte forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist as buyout targets.

A potential deal by Thursday’s NBA trade deadline for the likes of Minnesota forward Robert Covington isn’t the only item on the agenda of Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey this week.

According to The Athletic‘s Kelly Iko, the Rockets are also monitoring the upcoming buyout market, with Cleveland big man Tristan Thompson and Charlotte forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist among their targets.

Iko writes:

Assuming the Rockets trade Capela and aren’t able to land a serviceable replacement center over the next 72 hours, Tristan Thompson is someone they’d like to acquire in a buyout. Thompson’s skillset is very similar to what Capela brings to the table, and Thompson has championship experience. …

Another name to monitor in the assumption he gets a buyout is Charlotte’s Michael Kidd-Gilchrist — Houston has liked him for some time. His three-point shot is still horrendous (.294), although his last four games has seen an uptick (.429 at home).

Both players are in the final year of their respective contracts.

The Rockets are reportedly seeking a wing player and replacement center if they trade Clint Capela, but it remains to be seen if they could get both in the same transaction. If they are not able to, the buyout market could be a plausible solution to the other need.

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Most buyouts do not occur until after the NBA’s annual trade deadline, since teams would prefer to trade those players and receive value in return for them, if at all possible.

However, once the deadline passes, many rebuilding teams — which Cleveland (13-38) and Charlotte (16-34) definitely are — will engage in buyout talks with veterans on expiring contracts. It’s usually a means of doing a favor to the player and/or his agent by letting the player enter free agency and join a team better positioned to win that season.

Because the trade deadline has passed and the player is on an expiring contract, it’s possible (if not likely) that the player could leave the team for no compensation in summer free agency — which means there’s not much downside to his team to let him go now.

If anything, some rebuilding teams might even see a further incentive for a buyout, since sending away a veteran could open up more playing time for younger players, earn goodwill with influential agents, and perhaps also give the team better odds at a higher pick in the upcoming NBA Draft (by losing more games, thanks to the veteran not playing).

Now 28 years old, the 6-foot-9 Thompson is averaging 11.9 points (50.8% shooting) and 10.4 rebounds in 31.0 minutes per game with the Cavs this season. He could potentially replace some of the rebounding void if Houston deals Capela, who ranks fourth in the NBA with 13.8 rebounds per game. Thompson was drafted No. 4 overall in the 2011 NBA Draft.

Meanwhile, the 26-year-old Kidd-Gilchrist is best known for his wing defense. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft is averaging 4.0 points and 2.9 rebounds in 13.3 minutes per game with the Hornets.

The NBA’s 2019-20 trade deadline arrives at 2 p.m. Central time on Thursday, and buyout negotiations around the league with veterans who are not dealt should begin shortly thereafter.

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Rockets reportedly offered Clint Capela to Nets for Prince, Allen

Though the bid for Taurean Prince and Jarrett Allen was declined, it sheds more light on what Rockets GM Daryl Morey hopes to do this week.

As part of ongoing trade talks with starting center Clint Capela, the Houston Rockets reportedly offered Capela to the Brooklyn Nets for a package led by big man Jarrett Allen and small forward Taurean Prince.

According to The Ringer‘s Kevin O’Connor, the Nets declined the offer:

Atlanta, Boston, and Brooklyn are among the teams that Houston has approached for the center. League sources say the Rockets offered Capela to the Nets for a package that included Jarrett Allen and Taurean Prince, which Brooklyn declined.

The 6-foot-7 Prince averages 12.4 points and 6.4 rebounds in 29.9 minutes per game, and he’s well regarded for his perimeter defense — which is clearly something the Rockets are searching for this week. The 25-year-old is also a career 37.3% shooter from 3-point range.

Meanwhile, the 6-foot-11 Allen averages 11.3 points and 9.7 rebounds in 27.2 minutes per game as Brooklyn’s starting center.

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Allen is just 21 years old and could have further upside in the years ahead, which may have played a role in Brooklyn’s choice to decline the offer.

Elsewhere in the story, O’Connor confirms Minnesota forward Robert Covington as a continued target for GM Daryl Morey and the Rockets in potential three-way trades leading up to Thursday’s trade deadline.

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O’Connor also reports that Houston has recently spoken with Atlanta about just a two-way trade for Capela, though specific players from the Hawks’ side in those talks were not identified.

Though the Brooklyn proposal wasn’t accepted, what it suggests is a potential reallocation of resources from the Rockets’ perspective. Making more than $16 million per season, Capela is Houston’s third-highest paid player, trailing only former MVPs James Harden and Russell Westbrook.

But despite the salary, the Rockets (31-18) are 9-1 in the 10 games that Capela has missed this season ⁠— including 3-0 in the past week with a smaller lineup with P.J. Tucker at center. Those smaller lineups offer more floor spacing for Westbrook and Harden, allowing them to attack the basket since defenses have to respect 3-point shooters at all positions.

In a separate The Ringer article, Dan Devine makes the statistical case for why the Rockets are considering moving on from Capela:

As the Rockets offense became more predicated on floor spacing and one-on-one play, it became less oriented around the two-man game. [About] 21% of their possessions were finished by a pick-and-roll participant last season, and that’s down to 15.5% this season, with Houston ranking last in the league in percentage of plays finished by pick-and-roll ball handlers and roll men. As the Rockets have moved away from his bread-and-butter play, Capela’s production on it has waned, too: He’s gone from the 91st percentile in points scored per pick-and-roll possession finished two seasons ago, to the 65th percentile last season, to the 50th percentile this season.

If you’re not a pick-and-roll-heavy team anymore, maybe having a nonshooting pick-and-roll center, especially one who’s not a no-doubt-about-it elite finisher in that role, just isn’t as valuable as it used to be.

The Rockets average 117.3 points per 100 possessions when the 25-year-old Capela isn’t on the floor this season, which for the full 2019-20 season would be the best offense in the entire NBA. With the 6-foot-10 big man on the court, the Rockets average 110.3 points per 100 possessions.

They are slightly worse defensively without Capela, who ranks fourth in the NBA with an average of 13.8 rebounds per game, but not nearly to the extent of their improvement on offense.

Thus, the Rockets are seeking both a wing player (Prince) and a viable center (Allen) in their moves leading up to Thursday’s NBA trade deadline. While they may want to finish games with a smaller floor-spacing lineup, especially in select matchups, there are also advantages to having a traditional size presence that can offer rim protection and rebounding.

But rather than having so many eggs solely in Capela’s basket, from a salary perspective, Morey seemingly wants to redistribute those funds to give the Rockets more flexibility with their lineups.

The trade deadline arrives at 2 p.m. Houston time on Thursday.

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Reports: Rockets target Covington, Iguodala; Celtics in on Capela

Per ESPN, Robert Covington and Andre Iguodala are among the targets for the Rockets, who have spoken to teams about moving Clint Capela.

With the NBA’s 2019-20 trade deadline just three days away, the Boston Celtics are the latest team to reportedly show interest in Houston Rockets center Clint Capela, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Other teams that had previously been identified as Capela suitors include the Atlanta Hawks and Sacramento Kings.

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The Rockets are said to be seeking a wing player in their moves, as well as a fill-in center to help replace Capela’s size. In Wojnarowski’s tweets on Monday afternoon, he identified Robert Covington in Minnesota and Andre Iguodala in Memphis as potential targets. Both could be attainable for Houston, given Capela’s outgoing salary of over $16 million.

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Since it wouldn’t seem that the Timberwolves with Karl-Anthony Towns and the Grizzlies with Jonas Valanciunas need a center such as Capela, that is likely why Rockets GM Daryl Morey is looking for third-team partners such as the Hawks, Kings, or Celtics.

The draft compensation from one of those teams for Capela could then be flipped to a team such as Minnesota or Memphis.

Both Covington and Iguodala, who are best known for their wing defense, have been rumored Houston targets for months.

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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 for Houston, with Capela missing several games of late with a minor heel injury, 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 that recent small-ball stretch, including wins over two likely Western Conference playoff teams in Utah and Dallas.

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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, both All-Star guards James Harden and Russell Westbrook did not play.

Led by head coach Mike D’Antoni, the Rockets seem to be prioritizing maximum floor spacing for Harden and Westbrook with potential 3-point shooters at most or all positions, even if it costs them size.

The Rockets have one more game before Thursday’s trade deadline, which arrives at 2 p.m. Central time in Houston.

That next game comes Tuesday night at home versus Charlotte, with Capela again expected to sit out due to his heel injury.

Report: Rockets engaged in trade talks involving center Clint Capela

Per a Sunday report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Rockets are engaged in trade talks involving starting center Clint Capela.

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.

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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.

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.

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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