Lakers Should Target Clint Capela Contract amid 2025 NBA Free Agency Rumors

With the end of the NBA regular season still two weeks away, the Los Angeles Lakers probably aren't too focused on free agency yet. Despite some recent struggles and injury woes, the Lakers still have an opportunity to make noise in the postseason.

At some point in the not-too-distant future, though, Rob Pelinka and JJ Redick will need to consider what comes next. Pairing Luka Dončić with LeBron James ahead of the trade deadline made L.A. a legitimate postseason threat, but there are areas of the roster that could still be improved.

It's no secret that the Lakers are thin at the center position. Jaxson Hayes, when healthy, has proven to fit well with the roster and Redic. However, Los Angeles could use more depth and defense—and that's assuming Hayes returns in free agency.

The 24-year-old is an impending free agent, and, according to The Athletic's Jovan Buha (h/t Lakers on SI) is likely to generate a lot of interest on the open market:

"I think there will be suitors who look at the pedigree of being a former lottery pick, look at the age, look at the skill set, look at the improvement, and try to poach him from the Lakers."

Whether they plan to retain Hayes or not, the Lakers should already have an eye on Atlanta Hawks center Clint Capela.

According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, Capela is expected to leave Atlanta in free agency:

"After being benched in favor of Onyeka Okongwu and dangled in trade talks before the deadline, the early expectation is Hawks center Clint Capela will sign elsewhere in unrestricted free agency this summer, league sources told HoopsHype."

Capela will turn 31 in May and isn't quite the player he was early in his career. He's also battled injuries in recent years and is currently sidelined with a ligament injury in his left hand.

However, he's still a solid defender and quality rim-protector who would provide valuable depth in L.A.'s rotation. Offensively, he'd be a strong pick-and-roll partner for Dončić, specifically.

This season, the 2021 rebounding champ averaged 8.9 points, 1.1 assists and 8.5 rebounds.

According to Buha, Capela is a player the Lakers have considered before, though, his price point could be problematic.

"This was a guy that the Lakers have had interest in, in the past," Buha said on his Buha's Block podcast in late February (beginning at the 18-minute mark). "...I would assume that he's a guy that goes for at least the taxpayer MLE, if not the non-taxpayer MLE, and maybe he would sign 2 2-year, $22-23 million deal, but maybe it is a little bit lower."

The financials, of course, will be the tricky part. The Lakers are currently projected to be $4.4 million under the first luxury tax apron, according to Spotrac. However, that's before factoring in a possible Hayes deal or the potential implications of James and/or Dorian Finney-Smith opting out.

The Lakers have other needs to address as well, like perimeter shooting, so Capela's contract demands could become a critical piece of the equation—he carried a $22.3 million cap hit this season.

Capela would be a strong fit, though, and is probably on the higher end of realistic free-agent targets for L.A. With Capela's foray into free agency appearing likely, adding him is a move that the Lakers absolutely must consider.