The Houston Rockets lost Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute this offseason, but they won't lose Clint Capela.
.@CapelaClint ✔️
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) July 27, 2018
Free agent center Clint Capela has been re-signed.
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Capela is coming off his best season as a pro with averages of 13.9 points, 10.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. His numbers might not jump off the page, but Capela is a huge reason for Houston's development into an elite offensive team.
With the amount of pick-and-rolls Chris Paul and James Harden run, having a lob threat around the basket helps keep defenses honest. Capela has also developed into one of the best cutters and offensive rebounders in the league, freeing Paul and Harden up to shine as isolation scorers.
It culminated in the Rockets being 2.0 points per 100 possessions better offensively with Capela on the court during the 2017-18 regular season and 1.9 points per 100 possessions better in the playoffs.
Capela continues to make strides on the defensive end, too. He established himself as a versatile defender last season, one who could protect the rim at a high rate and switch onto perimeter players when needed. The big man finished the playoffs with a league-leading 36 blocks in 17 games.
Having recently turned 24, the Rockets are making a smart bet on Capela being their center of the future.