NBA Free Agency Roundup: Rockets Facing $100 Million Question with Clint Capela

The Houston Rockets are tightening their purse strings in the second week of NBA free agency, which is producing mixed results.

On the one hand, they added James Ennis on a two-year deal, according to Yahoo Sports’ Shams Charania, patiently waiting out the market and landing a three-and-D wing to offset the losses of Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute. On the other, they’re playing a dangerous game with restricted free agent Clint Capela, who remains unsigned and may be inching closer to signing his qualifying offer as the parties remain far apart on contract terms.authentic nfl jerseys cheap

Spending big isn’t an issue for the Mi nfl jerseys for cheap nnesota Timberwolves, who might soon lock up their franchise cornerstone in Karl-Anthony Towns—a year after foolishly dumping heaps of cash on Andrew Wiggins.

Meanwhile, Carmelo Anthony and Jeremy Lin are linked again for the first time since Linsanity, and Isaiah Thomas still needs a home.

Never a dull moment.

It should come as no surprise that the Houston Rockets, a team committed to the cold math of basketball, are making a percentage play with Clint Capela.cheap nfl jerseys

The 24-year-old restricted free agent remains unsigned, and according to ESPN.com’s Tim McMahon, Capela and the Rockets have been as much as $40 million apart in their negotiations. Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle relayed one rejected offer, noting Capela turned down a five-year, $85 million deal.nfl jersey cheap

If we invoke comparisons, Capela is right to hold out for at least $100 million. Steven Adams, then 23, inked a four-year, $100 million extension with the Oklahoma City Thunder just before the 2016-17 season started. He got that money after putting up 8.0 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Andre Drummond signed his own five-year, $127 million contract just a month before his 23rd birthday in 2016.

The way NBA basketball is played today, Capela is likely more valuable than both Adams and Drummond.

At 24, Capela is coming off a season in which he averaged 13.9 points, 10.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks while leading the league in field-goal percentage. His defensive versatility—you won’t find many bigs better equipped to defend guards on switches and protect the rim—made him an integral component to Houston’s sixth-ranked defense. When factoring in how Capela fits into (and perhaps enables) Houston’s scheme, he’s worth even more to the Rockets than he would be to the rest of the market.

But the market is the problem.cheap nfl jersey

Few teams have the available cap space to make Capela a significant offer, and because the Rockets have matching rights on any deal he signs, they have no urgency to fork over a hefty contract preemptively.

This is rotten timing for Capela, and Houston is exploiting it.

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