The Rockets and free agent Clint Capela continue to negotiate the center’s new deal, but according to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, are still a ways away from agreeing on a contract.
The Houston Chronicle reports that Capela is searching for a deal that resembles the type given to his contemporaries at the center position, Rudy Gobert and Steven Adams. The Rockets offered Capela a five-year, $85 million deal, a deal that also included incentives, but the 23-year-old was not swayed.
Following from Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle,
The Rockets on July 1 offered $85 million over five years, with the contract potentially reaching $90 million with incentives, two individuals with knowledge of the offer said Tuesday.
That offer would be much larger than deals given other centers this offseason but falls short of the contracts received by Rudy Gobert (four years, $102 million) and Steven Adams (four years, $100 million) in 2016, when the NBA cap spike sent contracts for free agents that summer skyrocketing.
Capela’s representatives have sought a deal similar to those contracts, persons with knowledge of the negotiations said.
Capela, who showed he was an emerging two-way threat last year, was essential to the Rockets’ attack both on offense and defense. He averaged a career-high 13.9 points,10.8 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks last season. Capela was also a league leader in field goal percentage last regular season, making over 65 percent of his shots.
In the playoffs, the runner-up for the 2018 Most Improved Award showed his value to Rockets system when it mattered most, especially against the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals. Capela showed great ability to switch on to smaller defenders, which is an invaluable skill for a center in the modern NBA.
Capela can sign the Rockets’ qualifying offer worth $4.75 million, making him an unrestricted free agent next summer.
