Houston Rockets starting center Clint Capela isn’t going anywhere.
According to reports, Capela and Houston have agreed to a five-year contract with $80 million guaranteed, but he has the opportunity to earn even more.
As a part of the agreement, Capela could earn up to $10 million in additional cash if he hits upon specific incentives in his deal. He will make $1 million if the Rockets reach the Western Conference Finals, $500,000 for maintaining with a 30% defensive rebounding rate, and $500,000 for shooting at least 65% from the charity stripe.
Although it took a while, the Rockets finally locked up Capela in a much-needed move by the organization. Having already lost starting small forward Trevor Ariza, Houston knew they couldn’t afford to let Capela walk as well.
Clint Capela has improved tremendously over the last couple of years but came into his own last season. He averaged 13.9 points and 10.8 rebounds per game in 74 games played last year, but his value on the defensive end of the floor is even more pronounced. He has solidified himself as a defensive juggernaut, posted 1.9 blocks and 0.8 steals per game, but his true impact on the floor isn’t always visible in the box score.
His long arms allow him to alter the opposing player’s shots in a way that throws them off their balance. He also possesses excellent instincts as he always seems to be in the right position to make a play for his team.
It is no secret that Capela is one of the best defensive players in the NBA, and securing him long-term will likely do wonders for the Rockets playoff chances. They already have offensive firepower in James Harden and Chris Paul, but with the departures of Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute, it was clear that they had to make defense a priority in free agency.
His numbers have been on the rise every year of his career, and there is no reason to think they won’t follow a similar trend come October.
Featured Image Via Flickr/Michael Tipton
