Veteran center Clint Capela appears to be a prime trade candidate for the Rockets this offseason, with one report indicating that Houston was gauging the market to assess Capela’s value, while another suggested that the team was “actively” exploring potential deals involving Capela, Eric Gordon, and/or P.J. Tucker.
Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders, who identified the Celtics last month as one possible trade partner for the Rockets, tweets that – from what he has heard – Boston has “engaged pretty seriously” on Capela. Kyler cautions that things are fluid at this point in the offseason, pointing out that the Celtics may simply be doing their due diligence on possible scenarios.
Still, it’s interesting to consider how the Celtics’ potential interest in Capela might line up with the rest of their offseason plans. Al Horford and Aron Baynes have uncertain futures, as both veteran big men will have to make decisions soon on player options for the 2019/20 season — either player could, in theory, be traded if he opts in. Boston has also been linked off and on with Anthony Davis, the offseason’s biggest trade chip.
In addition to their unsettled frontcourt, the Celtics also have plenty of uncertainty at the point guard position, where both Kyrie Irving and Terry Rozier will be free agents. Irving seems increasingly unlikely to return to the C’s, with Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News becoming the latest reporter to cite a source who says there’s “nobody in Boston who thinks he’s staying.”
As for Rozier, Kyler says the Celtics have had “some level” of talks with the restricted-free-agent-to-be about a new contract.
From Kyrie and AD to Clint Capela
Unless it’s to free up cap space to pursue a FA what could Boston offer Houston that would compliment their front court and NOT hurt Boston’s chance to compete? I would think Tatum and/or Brown wouldn’t be shipped off? Maybe Hayward because he would be another playmaker who can man the SF position?
Sign and trade Rozier or Morris plus some other salary? Hayward is also possible.
Houston-Boston trade actually looks good for both teams. Horford & Rozier seem like the type of players that the Rockets need to move forward. Same with Capela in Boston. He could become their modern day Robert Parish.
I don’t see how Rozier will help them. They have 3 guards under contract all ready. I imagine they wan’t a play-making wing or big.