Charlotte Hornets: Is a trade for Clint Capela in play?
With the NBA trade deadline happening in under a week, could the Charlotte Hornets be interested in Clint Capela?
As the NBA trade deadline fastly approaches, the Charlotte Hornets may be seeking to make some moves. For Hornets fans, a trade near the deadline is rare, as the team typically cannot get a deal done.
If Hornets fans can remember, Charlotte has not made a midseason trade since 2018, when the team acquired Willy Hernangomez from the New York Knicks. Trade speculation has picked up as of late, and the Hornets could make a move this year.
On Sunday, ESPN reported that the Houston Rockets were interested in trading Clint Capela. As of now, the Rockets are looking at a variety of possibly three-team trades that they can make.
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The Rockets are currently interested in gathering draft assets that can help them get an impact wing player. If a trade for Capela is made, the Rockets would like to get a wing player and a center back in return.
As the Rockets look for trade partners, it can be confirmed that they are currently exploring opportunities with a variety of Easter Conference teams. One of the teams that are interested in Capela is the Atlanta Hawks.
If the Rockets are talking to many Eastern Conference teams, could it mean that the Hornets are a part of trade talks too? At the moment, the Hornets’ most significant need is the center position, as the team gives up 51.6 paint points per game.
In addition to defense, defensive rebounding has been an issue for the Hornets. The Hornets currently average 31.6 defensive rebounds per game, making them the worst team in the league in this category.
With Clint Capela on the market, he seems like a top-candidate who could solve the Hornets’ two issues, as mentioned above. In his sixth season, Capela is averaging 13.9 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game.
Capela has almost improved in every category this season, but his points per game average have fallen because of the decrease in shots per game. Capela is averaging one less shot per game than he did last season.
With Capela as a top defensive candidate, the Hornets have a few expiring contracts who happen to play the forward position. Veterans on the bench include Nicolas Batum, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Marvin Williams, and Bismack Biyombo.
If the Hornets were to decide to trade one of their current rotational centers, then you could expect Cody Zeller or Willy Hernangomez to also be on the table.
Next. Mavericks are interested in Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. dark
As the team continues to establish that they are rebuilding, a trade for a 25-year old center may work. The Hornets typically do not surprise fans with deals like this, but it would be surprising if they can pull off a trade for Capela before the deadline.