Clint Capela, Rockets Agree to Reported $21.5M Contract After DFS, Durant Deals

The Houston Rockets bolstered their frontcourt by signing veteran center Clint Capela on Monday following his five-year tenure with the Atlanta Hawks, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.

After signing a two-year, $45.9 million extension with the Hawks in September 2021, the 2024-25 season was the final year on Capela's contract, and he made $22.2 million.

He averaged 8.9 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 55 games with 41 starts this past season while splitting time with fellow center Onyeka Okongwu. His average of 21.4 minutes per game was his lowest since he joined the Hawks in 2020, and he was replaced in the starting lineup by Okongwu on Jan. 20.

The 2023-24 season was the first time Capela began splitting minutes with Okongwu consistently, and he averaged 11.5 points, 10.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. Now, he will get an opportunity to make more of an impact with Houston.

Despite his reputation as one of the more efficient centers in the league, the 31-year-old's production began to dip during the 2021-22 season. He averaged 11.1 points, 11.9 rebounds and 1.3 blocks that year but ranked seventh in the NBA with a field-goal percentage of 61.3. In his first season in Atlanta in 2020-21, he posted 15.2 points, 2.0 blocks and an NBA-best 14.3 rebounds per game.

An 11-year veteran, the Swiss player spent the first six seasons of his career with the Rockets after being drafted with the 25th overall pick in 2014. He began his professional career in Europe in 2012 and was traded to the Hawks in February 2020.

Capela is a consistent finisher at the bucket off pick-and-rolls as well as a strong rim protector. He should help bolster a frontcourt that already features Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams.