Clint Capela Could Leave Houston Rockets For Los Angeles Lakers This Summer
The Los Angeles Lakers will enter the 2018 free agent market for the purpose of coming out with one superstar or possibly two if they can manipulate their cap situation. While the focus has been on LeBron James and Paul George, there are others who could find themselves in purple and gold come the start of the 2018 season. One name, in particular, according to Gil Alcaraz IV of Hoops Habit is Clint Capela of the Houston Rockets.
The Lakers’ history is full of dominant big men, and adding Capela could be right up Rob Pelinka and Magic Johnson’s alley. From the days of Wilt Chamberlin, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, Andrew Bynum, and Pau Gasol, the Lakers are known to have one of the best in the post. However, times have changed as the Lakers have dealt with the likes of Timofey Mozgov, Roy Hibbert, Dwight Howard, and Brook Lopez. While some of those names have produced, there has not been a championship since Gasol. Something has to change.
If the Los Angeles Lakers were to steal Capela away from Chris Paul and James Harden, the Lakers will own one heck of an opposing frontcourt. There’s reason to believe the Lakers will re-sign Julius Randle after his monster second-half and with young Brandon Ingram and Kyle Kuzma, the Lakers will be set for a deep run.
Could The Lakers Steal Capela Away From The Rockets?
What it will boil down to is money. The Rockets can give him the qualifying offer of $3.4 million. However, the Los Angeles Lakers can offer him a max deal. The Rockets can either match it or let him walk. This is where the Lakers must do whatever is necessary to get the services of the NBA’s leader in FG percentage and one of the best defensive big men in the game.
[BXReporter]Mark has been covering Sports and Entertainment for the past six years. His work has been featured on Bleacher Report, ESPN, Fox Sports, Teen Vogue, and many other websites.