Veteran Hawks center Clint Capela is expected to be on the trading block this summer, Marc Stein reports at Substack.
As Stein explains, the Swiss big man will be on an expiring $22.3MM contract in 2024/25. Atlanta won the draft lottery and gave Onyeka Okongwu a four-year rookie scale extension last offseason, so Capela could be on move, particularly if the team chooses a big man with the No. 1 overall pick.
Capela, who just turned 30 years old, averaged 11.5 PPG, 10.6 RPG and 1.5 BPG in 73 games last season (25.8 MPG). The 10-year veteran has averaged a double-double for seven straight seasons.
Here’s more from the Eastern Conference:
- According to Stein, before the Bulls hired Wes Unseld Jr. and Dan Craig to be the top assistants under head coach Billy Donovan, they showed interest in David Fizdale. A former head coach, Fizdale was an assistant with the Suns this past season but may be departing after Frank Vogel was fired. Phoenix reportedly offered Fizdale a front office position to stay with the team, but he has yet to accept it.
- Rival teams are monitoring Julius Randle‘s situation with the Knicks, Shams Charania of The Athletic stated on FanDuel TV’s Run It Back (Twitter video link). Randle will be extension-eligible this summer and holds a $34.2MM player option for ’25/26, meaning he could be a free agent next year if he opts out. “How (the Knicks) handle that extension situation, if that is a conversation, what transpires, I think that will be interesting,” Charania said.
- The Heat may have to barter this year if they want to trade their second-round pick (No. 43 overall) or acquire another one, writes Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel. As Winderman details, for the upcoming ’24/25 season, teams that purchase a second-rounder with cash will be hard-capped at the first tax apron, and Miami is keenly aware of that fact. “It definitely factors in,” said Adam Simon, the Heat’s vice president of basketball operations and assistant general manager. “And you have to look at the big picture and what business you’re doing. And, so, that’ll come into play. But doing something that’s going to hard cap you, you definitely have to take that into consideration.”
I just don’t understand at all why these guys think the Hawks should trade Clint. He’s still obv really good & the Hawks are obv not looking to tank next season. Why would we trade him? We have a great duo at the 5 now. Our starter is 30 & our backup is 23. To me seems like we let those guys play this season out & use whatever we get for Trae along with our #1 overall pick to build around our frontline (Clint, Onyeka & Jalen) & other core guys (Dejounte, Dre, Bogdan) link to m.youtube.com
Cause Hawks suck ……
Sometimes teams just have to shake things up.
That team just doesn’t work as a winning group. That ECF vs the Bucks was their best shot. They’ve imploded since.
Trade for Murray hasn’t worked. Bodgan hasn’t worked. The depth hasn’t worked.
They don’t have bad players, but this mix isn’t producing a winning product.
Hunter is too injury prone. Trae is a very good, not great player. If he was, they’d be a winning club.
All of their pieces would be valuable to other clubs.
How would you fix your squad.
I don’t care for the Hawks but your ideas are sound. A team without a great center needs two good ones. And Trae is the odd man out.
Why do t you break down for ALL of us. This Hawks demise since East Finals. Why it happened and why we are here. Hawks have #1 pick.
And a chance to get back to playoffs contention.
Show us how much you know your team. Pull a KnickerbockerAl on Knicks, thing. You feel me. Educate us ……
Nobody said he isn’t good, last year of his deal and can be replaced. Used for rounding out the roster in other areas. OKC need a big like Clint. How many picks they got? Certainly got cap space.
How would him being in the last yr of his deal be a reason to trade him? And I like Onyeka as well as Sarr but neither one of those guys is as elite as Clint as far as rebounding & rim protection. Onyeka is def ready to be a starter but the fact of the matter is that Clint is better rn. And even more important is the fact that we have no need to choose one or the other. We can easily keep them both. Tbh even if we did keep the #1 pick & draft Sarr I still wouldn’t trade Clint. Id either keep all 3 guys or Id trade Onyeka instead. We don’t have our own 1st rd pick next yr. It would be pretty dumb to purposefully make the team less competitive next season & that’s what trading Clint would do. OKC is actually one of the few teams that don’t need a big like Clint lol but just bc there are plenty of teams that want him doesn’t mean we’re gonna be interested in trading him
First, I will flat out say I love Capela and his work ethic and hustle. I would not mind if he played out to retirement with the Hawks, gradually moving to a rotational roll. You know he is going to bring effort every night and his teammates like him. That being said:
1) He has some value to other teams, especially given his walk year as a salary offset. This makes him valuable in straight trade, but possibly even more so in a three team deal.
2) Hawks aren’t getting there with him, and it’s a walk year. Get something back for him. Period.
3) Even if the Hawks trade Murray, they are still in a bad cap situation, and Capela is the most likely candidate to be moved to get into a better situation.
If they move Trae, then there is a much better chance of retaining Capela. There is also the chance the Hawks look to move on from Hunter and it could help the cap situation. It just seems more tenable to move Capela.
None of us think he is a bad player, but a 10-10 type guy who scores via dunks and only plays mediocre defense (he does put in effort, and he would be better if teams didn’t have Trae to pick on via screens every trip down the court) is cheaper to come by than what the Hawks are paying him.
Another Stankara classic!
Drool over an average Hawks player : check
Say the Hawks aren’t tanking and are definitely looking to compete: check
Link to some shill video that nobody will ever decide to click : checkarooooo
To be that mediocre in the East is time to blow it up…
Could not agree more ..two really solid centres ..no one in draft worth changing that tandem ..hawks should focus on a guard or power forward…or else look at trading down…get value back with lower picks and players…
Except for Sarr….anyways carry on with they’ve got, that’s been working.
Okongwu is not a Center ….. he’s smaller than Bron ———
No wonder ……. catch up fellas.
Like I’ve been saying since last yr. Capela is someone they can get value for. And are able to replace. And you can replace him with the #1 pick. Frankly IDGAS about the Hawks or what they do. But even the geniuses on this board can see the value in a Clint trade. You’d think the Hawk Homer would. Finally see something right for these Hawks …
Seriously lol. You act the Fan. Yet everything you wanted has gone wrong.
From the players you lost. From the players you traded. Hawks have gone backwards since getting lucky with Ben imploding …..
By the way ……. Hawks suck.
Randle is a two time all star. It’s amazing how he gets overlooked. I’d like to see him and OG play a yr. Gotta admit that 180 mill extension seems high. He’s been a drama queen here in NY. At times. But has worked for everything he has earned. Have to respect that. Imo Knicks are ready to load up for contention. I can live with Randle . At least another yr. Then we’ll see…….
Brunson is clearly our #1 …….. the world knows that Now ….
Although there is a Brunson hater on this board. Watch out lols ……..
Brunson is your number one for certain.
Which is why the Knicks have a low ceiling.
He’d be far better as a number 2.
Or 3.
Now go off.
He’s shown he’s a number one. Problem is he lost his #2 and #3 to injuries
How many times must you get spanked. If you can’t understand or see who Brunson is. Why are you here. It doesn’t matter what you think is a #1. He’s clearly Knicks #1 RIGHT now. He’s played with Randle and has been complimentary. You win as a team. I could care less what your order or stardom is. I only care my team wins. We have built a contender in 4yrs. What exactly do you know about this …..
That Brunson is a two ……. Boohoo
What will you say when Knicks make their next trade. Or do you understand why Knicks have that OG record……..
There are no #ones a team. Only who’s hot or has a mismatch. Or an open look. It’s when top teams face. That cream rises to top. You can give them numbers then. Make you feel like you know something …… K
Brunson leads the NBA with 33.9 points per game this postseason, joining some of the biggest names in team and league history as he’s done it. Trivia! In Game 5, Brunson became the 5th Knick to record 10 or more career 30+ point Playoff games, can you list the other four?
All HOFers ……..
This is boring !!
link to nba.com
“Which is why the Knicks have a low ceiling.
He’d be far better as a number 2.
Or 3.“
Now this true genius. When you argue with history. As if history is a Knicks fan. This is true genius.
Knickboker : yes,brunson is knicks best player,but knick need better bench and healthy starter. Og is very good 2 way player,but too injury prone. Trade randle and og to the nets for mikal and pick and players. Nets wont going anywhere with mikal as their batman.with randle and og,they will have better chance. Knicks starter would be brunson,donte,mikal,hart,hartenstein (i still want him for my bulls). And the knick will get some depth from picks
This narrative is so weird that they need a better bench. It’s like a cop out of saying you didn’t watch the Knicks but want to criticize the ending of their season.
Oh my god I just read your trade proposal and this is starting to make a lot of sense
Capela and Murray for Ingram and Daniels
Think they grab either Sarr or Clingan with the first overall
Trae Bogdanovic Ingram J.Johnson Sarr/Clingan
Daniels Bufkin Hunter …. Onyeka
The only gal in the rotation I have is a back up PF. Maybe you want to add another back up veteran guard to help young Daniels and Bufkin. But aside from that you have 3 solid forwards, 2 solid young bigs, an all star point guard and 2 young back up guards.
Has to be Trae’s last chance and the only reason it’s him staying over Murray is the contract and lack of value I guess. But I like the length on the wings with guys like Ingram and Jalen. Hopefully whoever they get at centre can just dominate the paint
Trae to SA makes too much sense not to happen
I don’t think so. I’d rather they draft Topic. Got them I’d rather Garland or Murray over Trae anyways
So you trade away Capela who holds value being an expensive expiring deal, for a equally expensive expiring contract…. Oh and you give up Murray and his amazing contract for Daniels….
I have no words.
I’d hold onto Capella headed into next TD. He still can rebound and defend the cup. I’m just hoping they don’t make a trade involving him just to acquire a bad contract and keep Trae happy if they decide to keep him.
If OKC does not land Hartenstein or Clingan, they may take a swing at Capela. He does not hurt their future cap as he is a 1 year.
The reason ATL “should” explore trading Capela is their payroll and his contract. Avoiding the First Apron is essential, both this year and next. Right now, they’re looking it in the eye. Back of the napkin, they’re at 167-175 mm and the First Apron is 178 mm. If ATL can find a trade for TY that reduces payroll, then things might change.
Capela is the only large salary in the last year of his deal. Any Jalen Johnson extension will come online next year. Okongwu, another one position C, is signed long term. Not hard to figure out where they might shed a few pounds.
You’re right lol it’s extremely obvious as to who the Hawks would look to trade if saving $ is a top priority. He’s the same guy who they’d look to trade if upgrading the defense is a top priority. Lucky for us he’s also the guy who’d bring back the most value in a trade. They trade Trae to SA for Keldon Johnson, filler & picks & they’ll cut more payroll than any Clint deal & they’ll also restock our future picks, balance the roster & upgrade our defense. If we go from having Clint/Onyeka/Bruno as our center rotation to Onyeka/Sarr/Bruno that will clearly make us a worse team this season. Purposefully going backwards right now is clearly illogical.
LOL. What’s illogical is assuming away a real issue with a hypothetical TY trade that may or may not be available. As a frivilous fan, you can do that. A FO can’t, as they’ll need to address this issue one way or the other. Thus, its completely logical to explore the market for Capela, unless things change. As I indicated, if they get a TY deal, then that “might” change things (but it’s not a given that substantial payroll will be cut in a TY deal).
BTW, the only logical alternative to exploring the market on Capela is to give him an extension. Otherwise, he’ll likely leave at the end of the year anyway, and then it will be without trade compensation. I assume you’re advocating an extension, but you didn’t indicate any parameters. You can’t just assume you can punt, unless he’s amenable to that, and guys his age with his resume generally would like to lock in a multi-year contract, as it may their last.
Why ask a question and then be hostile to the answer? I don’t care if ATL trades Capela or not. You inquired as to the thought process of “these guys” and I told you what I believe they’re thinking. I’m not a fan of NBA team building methods that glorify going backwards, as if there is some virtue in it. But at least some of these methods can be employed quite logically.
Capela accepting a Hawks extension before free agency would 100% mean it’s an over pay and likely a huge overpay. Not exactly what the Hawks need at this moment
You are way overestimating the return for Trae. Murray might get that much due to his team friendly contract, but Trae’s contract eliminates him as ‘the guy who’d bring back the most value in a trade’.
I am not even certain he would bring more back than Bogdan at this point.
And I am not joking here. You have got to understand that Trae’s contract is a horrible burden to his trade value. There are so few teams willing or able to take it on that the Hawks won’t get much. That is 100% the reason you heard no Trae rumors last year. They asked some teams, but it died quickly. Teams are far more interested in Murray.