interesting. I just looked up his advanced stats and while his block % was almost career low last year, it’s on par with Gobert and Jalen Duran last yr. so he’s still a pretty good shot blocker actually. His defensive rating has fallen sharply over the last two seasons, but it’s still pretty good; on par with Myles Turner. The eye test was not kind, at least in the games I’ve watched him over the last couple yrs, but the numbers say he’s better than I thought.
I'm hopeful that's the case, but he was willing to do that once with Golden State, won the championship, and was still unhappy in the prime of his career. LeBron took paycuts in Miami to keep their super team together in his prime, but he definitely has not given the Lakers significant paycuts as they have attempted to retain a strong core around them outside of a couple of million. Chris Paul also took a substantial discount in free agency with the Suns, taking less guaranteed money on the end of his deal, and ended up being a trade chip and playing off the bench for the Warriors. Ultimately, I'll believe it when I see it, and that is going to color my opinion of this Capela deal. Stone has done a very good job thus far in the long term, and if he already has his ducks lined up for a non-max KD extension and Tari that will keep them below the second apron, I'll be very happy to hear it as a fan. It's good to use the available room this year to sign a high demand luxury backup if you anticipate not being able to sign a commensurate player next year to fill holes. If they ultimately have to dump Cam/Capela for salary purposes only to duck the tax next year, then I am less a fan of this move, even if it doesn't cost them much or they get some small assets back.
I think while the Rockets like Adams, they don't totally trust that his health will hold up all the time. Capela is the insurance policy. I bit of an over kill it seems and I'd prefer them to address some other more needy areas.
Why haven't they officially announced that it's Landale that's being moved for Capela? I don't think we need to wait until July 6th. There has to be a contingency or consecutive move that's holding this up, perhaps with a third team with picks and/or more players?
Stone likes options. They don't usually pay off, but he's going to wait as long as he can before he chooses a path.
The thing is, even for those Rockets Fans where English is a fourth language, the voice of Worrell and Bullard was an iconic background score for them. The ratings from Rockets international satellite radio broadcast audience dramatically dropped when they were dismissed. Fertitta's advisors have major short sightedness.
The Rockets are trying to work with the Suns and other teams to lump the Durant trade and Capela signing as one transaction. I think once the details are worked out, we will hear whether Landale is being traded or waived (from all the recent news sources, it seems like they are going to waive him). I wouldn't anticipate any other players coming out of this deal for the Rockets, although I know everyone's imaginations can run wild.
It does seem like overkill, but I do recall several games last year we were forced to play Landale heavy minutes, and he was…not good.
Clint at 100 percent for 10-15 mpg / injury backup is great Pick and roll lob threat for KD and amen and whoever else
I agree, but I think he was on the outs in ATL the last several years. They had moved on from Clint and started going in another direction at C. I dont think he was very motivated anymore over there. He coming back "home" now so I hope he will be motivated in his role here and doing some winning helps. Ime will surely have his expectations for him as well. Big Steven also wont allow no slouches in the C room.
Ran across this: League sources tell The Athletic that the Rockets and Suns are working on expanding the Kevin Durant trade into a deal that would involve a league-record seven teams. Other teams involved in negotiations at the moment include the Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves, league sources say. No trade is imminent, and details are being ironed out as of Wednesday night. Source: New York Times (trying to lump all these deals together to save money and cap space looks like for all involved)
Landale is not being traded for Capela. Only 2nd round pick and cash are being sent. There is no need for salary matching because the KD trade allows for the Rockets to add in some more salary coming back to fit in Capela.
Not opposed to bringing Capela in at that salary. I'm just still a little surprised that the Rockets hard-capped themselves on the 1st apron for him. I expected the 3rd center to be a veteran minimum to keep the Rockets options open.
The nba summer salary sheet could be over the first cap, but if they're able to reduce salary at the following trade dealine and go below, then Org can still duck the luxury tax should they choose.
Double big line-up is fine if one of them is an outside shooter in Jabari and hopefully Sengun. But I rather we just focus on getting better shooters than rebounders. Also do we seriously trust Capela to get those same offensive rebounds Adams does? And what does Capela do that a Jabari at the 5 cannot do? Feels like a move that was unnecessary and rather we addressed the lack of creative guards who can penetrate and make something happen at the rim.
Each of our three centers give us something different and I really think it’s gonna lend itself well. Not only that but the double big lineup with Capela might succeed as well. I have a pretty strong belief in Sengun to improve his shooting and hopefully the coaching staff to get a little bit more creative in using him. I think there’s some runway there to be better and more creative. I don’t even want Sengun playing 82 games. Adams blocks some shots, and Smith has gotten better at this. But Capella is the best vertical shot blocker on the team and should be equally effective at finishing at the rim and continuing to make sure we have the rebounding edge. I read the guard situation as the rockets having a tremendous amount of faith in Shepp. And I don’t love the decision to keep Holiday over Whitmore BUT holiday probably gives us more in our goal to win a championship this year. I do, however, call BS on the rumors of Whitmore to the Lakers. I think that we would send him east.
So it looks like the pick going to Atlanta for the S&T is not a real one. Not the biggest thing in the world, but given that the Rockets did trade 5 2nd rounders to the Suns, always good to keep another asset for minor moves.
