The Houston Rockets are engaged with a number of Eastern Conference teams regarding a potential Clint Capela trade, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports, including the Atlanta Hawks.
The Hawks have been linked to Capela since Friday when The Athletic’s Shams Charania wrote of their desire to bring the Swiss big man to Georgia. At that time the Rockets were said to be unlikely to move Capela barring an overwhelming offer.
Wojnarowski’s report notes that there are several multi-team options in play for the 24-year-old dropping 14 and 14 in a relative down year and the Rockets could feasibly use Capela to bring back a draft asset that they could then flip for a wing.
According to Wojnarowski, atop Houston’s wish list for trade deadline acquisitions is a wing and a center.
Capela’s $14.9M contract is an intriguing one for a franchise looking to invest in a promising pivot with plenty of team control. For the Rockets to complete a deal, however, they’d need to find a way to make the money work knowing that they’re already above and beyond the luxury tax.
The Hawks have several expiring contracts available that could be in play if the Rockets are serious about completing a swap and they are in possession of a pair of first-round picks, including Brooklyn’s lottery protected first in the event that they want to hold onto their own more lucrative pick.
