DECEMBER 20: The Rockets have confirmed that Capela has a small left fibula fracture, announcing the diagnosis today in a press release. The big man will be re-evaluated in four weeks, according to the team.
We heard earlier today that Houston is “probing” the trade market for available bigs, but will likely roll with in-house options like Nene and Montrezl Harrell.
DECEMBER 19: Rockets center Clint Capela has a broken fibula, according to Hunter Atkins of The Houston Chronicle. The news was confirmed by Mark Berman of Fox 26 in Houston, who says league sources expect Capela to miss about six weeks (Twitter link).
Capela underwent an MRI today after banging knees with Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns in Saturday’s game. Capela will have another scan to confirm the seriousness of the injury.
The news was broken by L’Equipe, a sports publication based in France. The Rockets have not released the results of the MRI or commented publicly on Capela’s condition.
The third-year center out of Switzerland moved into the starting lineup this season with the departure of Dwight Howard to the Hawks. Capela is averaging 11.8 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 28 games.
While Capela is out, the center duties will fall mainly to Nene, who signed with the team over the summer and second-year player Montrezl Harrell. The Rockets matched an offer sheet for Lithuanian big man Donatas Motiejunas earlier this month, but decided to release him after he took a physical.
Paging Bryan Colangelo. Nerlens for a 1st and something?