Is this farewell to the long time starting center If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement and he might be winning the battle over the Swiss international center that Hawks fans know well Clint Capela began the season as the starting center he was but a spectator like the rest of us Clint Capela has been stamped as the starting center for 4.5 years since the beginning of the 2020-21 season but injuries and declining performance saw Capela pushed to a bench role for the first time since his second year in the NBA he logged the fewest minutes per game also since his sophomore season his finishing near the rim was shockingly poor and he finished with his worst true shooting percentage (TS%) — again — since his second season at just 56.4% The shame of it all is that he began the season playing like his usual self. He was as strong a rim protector and rebounder as he’s ever been since 2021 for the first couple of months of the season. But from the moment I wrote this I put a curse on Capela’s physical capability to hold up for the remainder of the season The numbers paint a picture of a precipitous plummet. His defended field goal percentage differential (a decent proxy for rim protection) ticked up a point from October-December to January forward his plus/minus per 100 possessions went from a solid +2.8 to a ghastly -14.1 across the same time split The Hawks were outscored by about 14 points per possession when Clint Capela was on the floor in the year 2025 of our Lord Quin Snyder penned in Onyeka Okongwu into the starting lineup for the first time and ‘Double O’ never looked back but also I think that I’m a player that can play a role,” Capela had to say about what the switch means for his career going forward Capela will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason so his time in Atlanta may have come to a close he reflected on his time in Atlanta thus far “First year was good and then it started being a little bit harder Maybe it’s going to work for the better or not After working his way back into the rotation we got word that he suffered a ligament injury in the fourth metacarpal of his left hand An @emoryhealthcare injury update: Following an MRI at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex on Mar. 17, center Clint Capela has been diagnosed with a ligament injury in the fourth metacarpal of his left hand. Capela will undergo rehabilitation and will be re-evaluated in… pic.twitter.com/oh8qY3uj6w I’m happy to be able to do stuff on the court I’m probably like two weeks away from being back at 100%.” “I’m always saying that injuries are a part of the season too,” he continued As much time as you’re on the court and train as hard as you can your going to spend as much time in the weight room and rehab as a 30-year-old free agent with a rapidly declining offensive touch Clint Capela may have to settle for a reduced role going forward — whether here or elsewhere in the NBA he still pulled down over 14 rebounds per 36 minutes this season — his 14.4 rebounds per 36 minutes would have ranked in the top five if he qualified for minutes — and he remains a smart and hardworking defender I find it hard to believe he can’t at least be a solid backup center for almost any team in this weak free agent center class But it increasingly seems like that will be somewhere other than Atlanta for next season and beyond ATLANTA -- Atlanta Hawks center Clint Capela is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season with an injury to his left hand The Hawks said Friday an MRI showed Capela had a ligament injury in the fourth metacarpal of his hand The Hawks said Capela will be evaluated in three to four weeks Atlanta's final regular-season game is scheduled for April 13 against Orlando Capela, 30, lost his starting job to Onyeka Okongwu in mid-January Capela is averaging 8.9 points and 8.5 rebounds following eight consecutive seasons scoring in double figures Capela has averaged 12 points and 10.5 rebounds The Hawks are seventh in the Eastern Conference and on track for a spot in the play-in tournament It was impossible to miss Drayton Jones in the hallways at Strake Jesuit in Houston As a freshman, the incoming Butler basketball transfer stood 6 foot 7 Friends with fellow students from all walks of life Strake Jesuit basketball coach Dominic Amorosa didn't know it at the time but the mild-mannered Jones could transform his persona into "Diesel" once he took to the court "He was like a big ole' teddy bear," Amorosa said He was like a gentle giant in the way he carried himself Jones was always one of the biggest kids in his class is a 6-9 former college basketball player at Southeastern Louisiana Trips to Foot Locker stopped for his son when he was 12 years old The family couldn't find size 18 shoes at the mall He'd outgrow them before the school year finished but how he'd use his size wasn't always clear He played offensive tackle and defensive end He didn't start playing basketball until he was 11 years old his father knew his son's future was on the hardwood and I knew that he was going to play basketball some day," Darryl said He just had to grow into (his body) and mature your bigs develop slower and he was a late bloomer." against Cooper Flagg helped Drayton Jones developThe origins of the nickname "Diesel" are cloudy He got the nickname from classmates after he wore a Christmas sweater with Diesel on it Darryl said his son earned the nickname as a kid playing basketball because he was so big and forceful that he resembled a young Shaquille O'Neal The way Jones' two-handed dunks left the backboard shaking the comparison to Shaq isn't that far fetched but Jones' development took time when he began playing AAU he played against players several years older than he was It took him between 20 or 30 games to make his first layup playing for the Fort Bend All-Stars being one of the biggest kids in the school didn't negate the fact that he needed to get better Jones began his high school career on the freshman team "He was just sorta kinda trying to figure out his body In AAU it's difficult for big guys because they don't have the ball and they're not handling the ball that's butter' after every shot like it was going to go in but you could tell he was going to be really impactful defensively his rapid improvement caught the eye of powerhouse basketball program Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson Jones transferred to Oak Hill for his senior season where he played a national schedule against other top teams around the country The most eye-opening game for Jones was one against Montverde Academy in Montverde (Florida) a team with what may be one of the best prep rosters ever assembled The 2022-23 Eagles had projected 2025 NBA Draft No Former five-star recruit Kwame Evans led Montverde with 16 points "It was such an eye opener because pretty much every game I played at Oak Hill I was playing somebody who is in the NBA right now or I'm playing people who are at Power Fives," Jones said I love the process of getting better and this basketball journey has been very fulfilling and its paid dividends with the work that I've put in over my life so far." but Jones committed to South Carolina State over East Tennessee State The move from Strake to Oak Hill was challenging for Jones He had grown three inches by the time he got to South Carolina State stronger competition and added another growth opportunity Meet Butler's 'Dennis Rodman' lite: An Isaiah Thomas assist, a disease and growth spurts "I learned I wasn't as good as I thought I was," Jones said "The things that worked in high school wouldn't work for me He broke me down in order to build me back up He broke down everything that I was good at and he broke down everything that I was bad at "Over these last two years he's really tried to help me build a very strong foundation going forward Really just doing as much as possible to facilitate and improve each facet of my game." Jones' best game came against Tulsa during nonconference play Jones scored in double figures just four more times as a freshman but he ended the season reaching double figures in three of his last seven games When the Smith-Hammond-Middleton Center was closed for social functions the big man took to running stairs at the football stadium to work on his conditioning big feet and big hands started to fill out Jones was finally ready to scratch the surface of his immense potential Trainer John Lucas II says Drayton Jones is like NBA's Clint CapelaFully comfortable in his body for the first time in years but he still needed work on the finer points of basketball 1 pick of the 1976 NBA Draft and longtime NBA coach John Lucas II Lucas is well known throughout NBA circles for his player development on and off the court He was most recently an assistant coach for the Houston Rockets Working with Lucas gave Jones a taste of what it's like to train at an NBA level because one thing about coach Lucas is that he'll be consistent every day," Jones said you're still going to have to see him at 6 and he's going to be on you from the time you walk into the gym to the time you walk out "He taught me how to be simple with the game How to play the game effectively and efficiently but I didn't understand the importance of playing hard until I got with coach Lucas this past year." Dawg Talk Podcast: Incoming transfers, lineup projections and more Lucas has had his hands in molding some of the top NBA players from the Houston area and many former Rockets players Lucas compares Jones' demeanor and shot-blocking ability to Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner the longtime coach compares Jones to former NBA rebounding champion "He's a rim runner who can post over either shoulder," Lucas said of Jones "He can set post-side pick-and-rolls and roll for lobs He's a weak side shot blocker and physical force inside I think he fits Butler and Big East basketball to a tee so I taught him pro concepts and where to be from the professional side .. He's in position to do a lot of things that he didn't have earlier." Lucas said when he first started working with Jones he still needed to grow into his body and he needed to improve on his lateral quickness Jones has the agility to switch onto guards in a pinch and the high basketball IQ to be a dominant shot blocker beating his man down the court and making himself available for lobs and offensive rebounds Jones worked on his jump shot to add an additional layer to his game Jones' fundamentals are solid and he's accurate in the mid-range He did not attempt a 3-pointer at South Carolina State but he improved his free throw shooting from 63% as a freshman to 69% as a sophomore helped the Bulldogs go on an 11-game winning streak and reach the MEAC conference title game Jones' work with Lucas led to a breakout sophomore campaign earning first-team All-MEAC and all-defensive team honors He scored a career-high 34 points in the Dec "It was confidence from the work I put in off the court with my trainer as far as lifting and conditioning to the work I put in on the court "Just the confidence I built within myself and the confidence that everybody else in the program — coaches Just going into every single game trying to do the best I can for my team "I had the same approach for every single game to attack and to do what needed to be done in order to win." Once Jones established himself as a two-way threat opposing teams tried to attack him off the dribble to put him in foul trouble Jones said he knows the importance of protecting the rim without fouling he earned the trust of his coaches to play late into games with four fouls Injury or foul trouble would greatly diminish the Bulldogs' frontcourt depth so adding another big with its last open roster should not be out of the question for Thad Matta and his staff Sister's death was 'super difficult.' How Butler transfer Yame Butler found 'a lot of joy' Jones has embraced challenges at every level he's reached He knows conquering the Big East is his latest challenge "I'm going into a place where I know I'm not going to be the best but I'm going somewhere where I know I'm going to get better," Jones said I'm going to be playing against pros every day I'm going to welcome that because I've always welcomed the challenge I've never been considered somebody who was the cream of the crop and I've always used that as motivation to get better I've used that chip on my shoulder to flourish." Few teams project to have spending power this offseason. Most will have leverage over their free agents unless the Brooklyn Nets, who have a near-monopoly on significant cap room, are actively targeting their players. Let's run through each team's toughest free-agency decision this summer. The Hawks recently fired general manager Landry Fields and promoted Onsi Saleh to replace him. They're expected to hire a president of basketball operations to make their top-level decisions. One of the first choices will be whether to retain Clint Capela. His game and durability have declined with age, and Onyeka Okongwu may be ready to step in as the full-time starter. If Capela isn't back, what's the Hawks' path at that position? Atlanta historically hasn't paid the luxury tax, so it must resolve Caris LeVert's free agency as well. LeVert, a scoring wing off the bench, is roughly the same age as Capela. Atlanta projects to be about $37 million below the tax line, giving an idea of the budget to retain, supplement or replace their pending free agents. If the Hawks keep the group together, pencil in closer to a $14 million starting salary for Capela and LeVert. Other: LeVert, Garrison Mathews, Larry Nance Jr. Maddie Meyer/Getty ImagesExpiring salary: $9.5 millionStarting age: 39Max eligible: $54.1 million Boston's budget may depend on its new ownership group. The Celtics will start paying the repeater tax in 2025-26, the first year in the CBA where the penalty doubles. If they win back-to-back championships, breaking up the core with a chance at the three-peat would be a difficult sell. Horford may be one of the league's oldest players, but he's still crucial to Boston's success on the floor. Given Kristaps Porziņģis' questionable durability, the Celtics almost have to bring back Horford at a price similar to his expiring deal. Luke Kornet may have earned regular rotation minutes, enough to entice a team to offer a little more than the minimum. The Celtics can pay him whatever they choose, but their initial tax bill projects to be in the $275 million range before considering Horford, let alone Kornet. Jacob Kupferman/Getty ImagesExpiring salary: $4 millionStarting age: 24Max eligible: $38.7 million The Nets project to have more cap room than any team in the league this offseason, even with Cam Thomas' $12.1 million cap hold on their books. Once they spend their cap room, they can use Thomas' Bird rights to pay him. Thomas was believed to be seeking nearly $30 million as the starting salary of a new deal, but he may not find another team that can give him that kind of an offer sheet. His qualifying offer to stay for one year in Brooklyn is just $6 million, so Brooklyn should have significant leverage in negotiations. Without Thomas, the Nets could reach almost $79 million in cap room, but the most likely path forward includes him, perhaps at close to a $20 million starting salary. The Nets must reach the minimum team salary, which is estimated to be $139.2 million, by the first day of the regular season. That could bode well for Thomas, plus Ziaire Williams and Day'Ron Sharpe (additional restricted free agents who could return). Other: Williams, Sharpe, D'Angelo Russell, Trendon Watford Most of the Hornets are under contract next season which isn't necessarily good considering that they won only 19 games this year Tre Mann missed most of the year with a back injury but he's been a steady backup for LaMelo Ball and a part-time starter when necessary Brandon Miller also missed most of the season with a wrist injury Perhaps a high lottery pick and better health will help Charlotte follow the same path as the Detroit Pistons Given that Mann will be a restricted free agent who's coming off an injury-plagued and few teams have spending power this offseason the Hornets shouldn't have to pay him more than the value of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception ($14.1 million) Justin Casterline/Getty ImagesExpiring salary: $8.4 millionStarting age: 23Max eligible: $38.7 million the Bulls won 39 games and didn't get through the play-in tournament for a proper playoff berth Giddey was an offseason acquisition (for Alex Caruso) providing the team with an excellent complement to scoring combo guard Coby White Giddey's miracle game-winner over the Los Angeles Lakers was arguably the peak of the season for the Bulls While the franchise is still finding its way Giddey looks like an integral part of its future Giddey is reliant on the Brooklyn Nets to issue an offer sheet The Bulls historically play the waiting game with restricted players and may not be willing to pay him the $30 million+ he's believed to be seeking A compromise may come in the mid-$20 million starting range Jason Miller/Getty ImagesExpiring salary: $2.6 millionStarting age: 28Max eligible: Approximately $13.9 million With Evan Mobley winning the Defensive Player of the Year award his contract extension jumped from starting at $38.7 million next season to $46.4 million The Cavaliers should be thrilled with his development and their jump into legitimate title contention but they're about to face a real budget crunch the Cavs will have a roughly $225 million payroll which will put them around $17 million over the NBA's second apron They won't have access to a mid-level exception and will face other flexibility restrictions in adding to their core Re-signing Ty Jerome would only put the Cavs further over the second apron but but they don't have the means to replace him and he's proven to be a reliable Sixth Man of the Year candidate Unless the Nets or another team with cap space (or the $14.1 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception) go after him Jerome will probably return to Cleveland at the max the team can pay him via his Early Bird rights Sam Hodde/Getty ImagesExpiring salary: $44 million (player option)Starting age: 33Max eligible: $54.1 million Given that Kyrie Irving is recovering from a torn ACL that he suffered in March he might decide to pick up his $44.0 million player option leaving the Mavericks without their primary shot creator for the first few months of the season Dallas needs to decide soon on whether to reinvest in him The Mavericks sold the Anthony Davis/Luka Dončić trade as a win-now decision so they seem likely to keep their All-Star point guard Pencil in Irving as returning via his player option which would make Dante Exum the Mavs' most notable free agent (since most of their roster is under contract) The Mavs can pay him more than the minimum which should be enough to bring back the veteran guard AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver PostExpiring salary: $3.5 million (player option)Starting age: 36Max eligible: $4.4 million as his wild attacking style can both win and lose games for his team The Nuggets have a high payroll with limited flexibility and may be unable to get as impactful a player as Westbrook (for better or worse) in free agency or trade If Westbrook has another suitor offering him a guaranteed salary he'll likely decline his player option to leave or push Denver to give him the most he can get (about $800,000 above the minimum) The Nuggets might prioritize younger players instead which makes Westbrook's future hard to predict Sarah Stier/Getty ImagesExpiring salary: $6 millionStarting age: 28Max eligible: $7.2 million The Pistons are one of the best stories in the league this season They jumped from a perpetual lottery team to a scrappy playoff squad going toe-to-toe with the New York Knicks Malik Beasley's Sixth Man of the Year-esque performance helped fuel that rise He averaged 16.3 points while shooting 41.6 percent from three-point range during the regular season The Pistons could carve out about $24 million in cap room this offseason but that would likely force them to move on from Beasley and Dennis Schröder They could instead stay over the cap to retain the same group they could use the $14.1 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception on Beasley since they can otherwise only offer him a starting salary of $7.2 million via his non-Bird rights they could use cap space or their $8.8 million room mid-level exception to retain Beasley toher suitors are unlikely to have more than $14.1 million to offer him as a starting salary Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesExpiring salary: $7.6 millionStarting age: 23Max eligible: $38.7 million Whenever Jimmy Butler is in the Warriors' lineup Jonathan Kuminga has been nowhere to be found as of late Kuminga might earn minutes in the regular season but he only joined the playoff rotation with Butler sidelined by the pelvis injury that he suffered early in Game 2 against the Houston Rockets Steph Curry and Draymond Green through the 2026-27 season Paying Kuminga his desired rate as a restricted free agent this offseason may not be in the cards Kuminga will need another team to issue him an offer sheet the Warriors might be willing to keep him on an inexpensive contract Perhaps the most likely path forward is a sign-and-trade Kuminga was believed to be looking for a contract starting in the $30 million range but can he even crack $20 million at this point Alex Slitz/Getty ImagesExpiring salary: $44.9 million (team option)Starting age: 31Max eligible: $54.1 million The Rockets emerged as one of the top teams in the Western Conference after several years at the bottom of the standings While he's not having his best shooting year (34.5 percent from three-point range) Fred VanVleet is the steadying force alongside a relatively young roster Houston can keep him at his inflated salary but is more likely to decline their $44.9 million player option and try to re-sign him on a long-termer deal at a more favorable number giving the Rockets enough flexibility to chase the best available star player in a trade (Giannis Antetokounmpo Projecting a scenario where VanVleet doesn't return to the Rockets for 2025-26 is a stretch Mast/NBAE via Getty ImagesExpiring salary: $19.9 millionStarting age: 29Max eligible: $54.1 million The Pacers have historically avoided the luxury tax That poses a potential problem if they aspire to retain Myles Turner unless they can trade for an inexpensive alternative (perhaps Walker Kessler) Indiana's budget for Turner would be about $15 million with the $187.9 million projected tax threshold in mind Unless the Brooklyn Nets express interest in him Turner may struggle to find more elsewhere The Pacers could make consolidation trades shedding duplicative players (perhaps Obi Toppin to give Jarace Walker more rotation minutes) to help subsidize a larger contract for Turner that may depend on market factors beyond their control pencil in Turner at about a $15 million starting salary though he's probably expecting at least $20 million Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty ImagesExpiring salary: $36.3 million (player option)Starting age: 36Max eligible: $54.1 million James Harden has a home in Los Angeles with the Clippers He returned to All-Star status while keeping the team afloat until Kawhi Leonard returned to full strength He could pick up his $36.3 million player option but players generally prefer to lock in as much money as possible when they have a chance to become free agents Expect Harden to opt out and re-sign for two or three seasons with a player option in the final year The Clippers aren't likely to invest in Harden beyond Leonard's contract The Clippers can avoid the tax if Harden re-signs for $36 million or less but they may look to improve with about $20 million in flexibility below the first apron Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty ImagesExpiring salary: $52.6 million (player option)Starting age: 40Max eligible: $54.1 million The Lakers appear willing to pay LeBron James for as long as he wants to play he's still one of the league's best players Expect him to opt out and return on another two-year deal with a player option for the second season The Lakers will undoubtedly give James another no-trade clause in the hope that he Perhaps they'll do that through free agency with the $5.7 million taxpayer mid-level exception and/or trade James could give the Lakers additional flexibility While he might be willing to take slightly less than a max James would need to dip below $40 million to give the Lakers access to the $14.1 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception Other: Dorian Finney-Smith (player option) Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty ImagesExpiring salary: $4 millionStarting age: 24Max eligible: $38.7 million After a disappointing finish to the season the Grizzlies now have to confront a few difficult decisions this offseason Santi Aldama was fifth on the team in minutes (25.5 per game) He's a good-but-not-great shooter (36.8 percent from three) but he's solid for a 6'11" forward Memphis seems likely to bring him back unless the Brooklyn Nets throw a huge offer sheet at him in restricted free agency Memphis could try to go under the salary cap to renegotiate and extend Jaren Jackson Jr.'s contract Pushing Jackson's salary up for 2025-26 from $23.4 million to $36.5 million would enable them to start his new extension at the max Jackson's situation could negatively impact Aldama's unless the Grizzlies can get out of Brandon Clarke or John Konchar's deals via trade pencil in Aldama in the $10-15 million starting range Eric Espada/NBAE via Getty ImagesExpiring salary: $6.5 millionStarting age: 27Max eligible: $38.7 million Davion Mitchell stepped into big moments for the Heat after the Toronto Raptors shipped him to Miami at the trade deadline The defensive-minded guard hit big shots to get the Heat through the play-in tournament before they got blasted by the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs The Heat must decide on a direction post-Jimmy Butler the most he's likely to earn is the $14.1 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception If Miami can get him for less ($9-12 million starting range) who has a $19.9 million early termination option that he's unlikely to execute Only $9.9 million of that salary is guaranteed so the Heat could open additional financial flexibility by parting ways with Robinson via waiver or trade Miami figures to be involved in disgruntled-star chasing Perhaps this is the year that the Heat can land a big fish Sean Gardner/Getty ImagesExpiring salary: $23 millionStarting age: 38Max eligible: $54.1 million Damian Lillard tearing his Achilles tendon devastated the NBA world The Bucks now figure to be without their star guard for most or all of next season What does that mean for Giannis Antetokounmpo Is there a foreseeable path for the Bucks to contend for a title in the near future He's still productive and was part of Milwaukee's championship core but the 37-year-old is one of the oldest players in the league The Bucks might prioritize getting younger while Lopez may be able to find a deal somewhere in the $14.1 million non-taxpayer mid-level deal exception range The Bucks could aim to avoid paying luxury taxes next year It may be time to move on for as much as he can get from another contender looking for a big man Ronald Martinez/Getty ImagesExpiring salary: $15 million (player option)Starting age: 26Max eligible: $46.4 million The Timberwolves have two core players with player options for next season but with so few teams armed with cap room this summer he's more likely to finish his deal and explore free agency in 2026 (or extend before then) Naz Reid could exit his deal early to get a pay raise Pencil in a bump up to a starting salary above $20 million but only the Brooklyn Nets (or possibly the Detroit Pistons) have the means to offer more the Timberwolves won't want Reid to test the market in 2026 so they should make sure to take care of him this summer Minnesota probably won't exceed the second apron (about $207.8 million) which complicates matters when negotiating to keep Nickeil Alexander-Walker Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty ImagesExpiring salary: $23 millionStarting age: 29Max eligible: $40.3 million The Pelicans are another franchise known for dodging luxury taxes which may make sense given how badly this year went for them and it's unclear when starting point guard Dejounte Murray (knee) will be back thus may not find a home in New Orleans next season unless the Pelicans trade away salary Brown missed most of the season with a knee issue He's probably a $5-8 million player at this point in his career His larger salary was primarily perfect timing coming off the championship with the Denver Nuggets to an Indiana Pacers team that needed to get the league's minimum team salary He was sent from Indiana to the Toronto Raptors for Pascal Siakam and to New Orleans in the Brandon Ingram swap He'll have to take a sizable pay cut if he's back with the Pelicans Sarah Stier/Getty ImagesExpiring salary: $3 millionStarting age: 31Max eligible: $3.8 million The results will be determined over the coming weeks but they won't have much flexibility moving forward If the Knicks fill the rest of their roster with minimum contracts this offseason That may limit New York's appetite to pay Payne anything more than the minimum He's not playing huge minutes in the playoffs but he's part of head coach Tom Thibodeau's rotation Given Jalen Brunson's physical style of play Keeping Payne may be the most likely path forward for the Knicks Tyler Kaufman/Getty ImagesExpiring salary: Two-way contractStarting age: 26Max eligible: $2.5 million The Thunder may be the best team in the NBA and they already have every player under contract for next season outside of those on two-way deals Carlson may most likely be invited to return on another two-way Roster space is the primary concern for the Thunder who have at least two first-round picks in June They're featured on the list for completion's sake but Oklahoma City's biggest decision this summer may be the parade route Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty ImagesExpiring salary: $11 million (team option)Starting age: 29Max eligible: $38.7 million The Orlando roster is getting increasingly expensive Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs start their extensions in July while Paolo Banchero is a virtual lock to receive a max extension this offseason The Magic are already near the luxury tax without Mo Wagner who's recovering from a severe knee injury Wagner's brother is one of the team's stars which suggests the Magic will bring him back Roster space is another issue since the Magic have two first-round picks They may need to pull off a consolidation trade to stay under the tax and within the 15-man limit he may start the regular season as a free agent before rejoining Orlando for cheap midway through the year the Magic would still have his full free-agent rights Megan Briggs/Getty ImagesExpiring salary: $4.3 millionStarting age: 25Max eligible: $38.7 million Joel Embiid and Jared McCain missed most of the season with knee injuries Paul George wasn't healthy or impactful enough on a max deal One of the bright spots was the play of Quentin Grimes whom they acquired ahead of the trade deadline from the Dallas Mavericks Grimes was a complementary scorer/defender he showed he can consistently put up points as a lead guard with Philadelphia Finding the correct price for the restricted free agent will be interesting The Brooklyn Nets could give him an offer sheet gambling that the 76ers won't want to add too much to their budget Philadelphia is already close to the luxury tax Keeping this group together may push the Sixers into the aprons which isn't ideal considering their poor result this season The best-case scenario for Philadelphia may be that Grimes takes a deal starting near the $14.1 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception although he may feel that's too low of an offer Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty ImagesExpiring salary: $3 millionStarting age: 29Max eligible: $4.4 million The addition of Tyus Jones as a veteran point guard was supposed to help the team run a more organized offense Jones is a low-turnover guard and steady shooter and Phoenix proved to have greater issues than needing a point guard Does Jones want to return to a team in flux or find a more stable home Jones may seek the $14.1 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception whether it's another minimum deal or via a team's exception to get closer to $10 million Amanda Loman/NBAE via Getty ImagesExpiring salary: $2.2 millionStarting age: 25Max eligible: Approximately $13.9 million The Blazers improved as a unit throughout the year While they didn't make the play-in tournament they have seemingly turned the corner into respectability Most of Portland's roster is already under contract for 2025-26 the Blazers won't have room to add talent without subtracting a solid combo guard with athleticism but an unreliable outside shot averaged 8.3 points and 2.4 assists in 16.7 minutes per game last year but he may not get more than a minimum contract anywhere else Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty ImagesExpiring salary: $3.4 millionStarting age: 23Max eligible: $5.2 million Sacramento recently hired Scott Perry to run basketball operations Will he stick with the same core that underperformed this past season or push for more significant change Those larger questions must be answered before addressing Jake LaRavia whose fourth-year rookie-scale option was declined by the Memphis Grizzlies before his trade to the Kings The most Sacramento can pay LaRavia is $5.2 million no matter what They can't use cap room or other exceptions to sign him more Should another team offer him $5.3 million or higher LaRavia could be the target for a rebuilding team that's looking to add a young shooting/scoring wing at a reasonable price in the $6 million range Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesExpiring salary: $12 millionStarting age: 40Max eligible: $12.6 million Paul played in 82 games for just the second time in his long career Even with the addition of De'Aaron Fox via trade Paul was a helpful floor general for a young team needing leadership barring a blockbuster trade to add another star (perhaps Giannis Antetokounmpo if he demands out from the Milwaukee Bucks) A similar salary should be enough to keep Paul from returning to Los Angeles The Lakers and Clippers may not be willing to offer him more than the minimum given their other obligations Kevin Sousa/Getty ImagesExpiring salary: $10.8 millionStarting age: 32Max eligible: $46.4 million Chris Boucher is the last of the 2019 championship-winning Raptors but his time with the franchise may be coming to an end but the hope is they'll have a Detroit Pistons-like turnaround with health and the trade-deadline addition of Brandon Ingram The Ingram trade increased the Raptors' payroll into luxury-tax territory which is a bit high for an unproven roster that may not be quite close enough to contention Look for the Raptors to shop a player like RJ Barrett to reduce payroll that may open an opportunity for Boucher to return he could be the target of a team looking for size and shooting He's 6'9" but has a long wingspan and has built a career as an energy player His range could be from the minimum to about $8 million Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty ImagesExpiring salary: Two-way contractStarting age: 25Max eligible: $2.5 million Unless John Collins (player option) opts out the Jazz have all 15 players under contract for 2025-26 Some are non-guaranteed and could be waived (barring trades) which may be inevitable with two first-round picks in June That leaves a pair of two-way contracts hitting free agency with no regular roster spot available Micah Potter is no longer two-way eligible Tshiebwe is a dominant force on the G League level and could be back with the Jazz on another two-way Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty ImagesExpiring salary: $22.5 millionStarting age: 32Max eligible: $46.4 million Malcolm Brogdon is a capable veteran combo guard and a 38.8 percent career three-point shooter he shot 41.2 percent from deep for the Portland Trail Blazers but he dropped to 28.6 percent this year with the Wizards Was his lack of accuracy related to how bad the team was around him this year Durability has been an issue dogging Brogdon throughout most of his career Washington has neither the need nor the roster space to bring Brogdon back The Atlanta Hawks may have had their “toughest” decision of free agency made for them, and it might not be the worst thing that could happen for them. General manager Landry Fields and promote Onsi Saleh, they will hire a new president of basketball operations That person has a host of roster decisions to make “One of the first choices will be whether to retain Clint Capela His game and durability have declined with age and Onyeka Okongwu may be ready to step in as the full-time starter what's the Hawks' path at that position?” Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus wrote on April 29 “Atlanta historically hasn’t paid the luxury tax so it must resolve Caris LeVert’s free agency as well The points and boards were his fewest since at least the 2016-17 season and he came off the bench consistently for the first time since 2015-16 There was some hope he would be able to return to action before the campaign ended “After being benched in favor of Onyeka Okongwu and dangled in trade talks before the deadline, the early expectation is Hawks center Clint Capela will sign elsewhere in unrestricted free agency this summer,” HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto wrote on March 28 Pincus notes they are projected to come in roughly $37 million below the luxury tax threshold Pincus also projects a salary “closer to a $14 million starting salary” if Capela returns The Hawks have several other players to address, including trade pickups Caris LeVert (deadline) and Larry Nance Jr. (offseason), who ended up missing most of the season with injuries and had to wait to earn a role to begin the campaign Pincus also listed swingman Garrison Mathews among the candidates for tough decisions but his role diminished greatly this season and he will likely be able to explore his market The Hawks also have several players who are under contract to address Most notably, Trae Young and Dyson Daniels are both extension-eligible this offseason The Hawks must also decide how committed they are to veterans Georges Niang and Terance Mann both of whom are under contract through next season If the Hawks made a mistake with Capela – perhaps outside of how the role change was handled – it was failing to move him at the trade deadline © 2025 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Minute Media or its affiliates and related brands All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER “One of the first choices will be whether to retain Clint Capela “After being benched in favor of Onyeka Okongwu and dangled in trade talks before the deadline, the early expectation is Hawks center Clint Capela will sign elsewhere in unrestricted free agency this summer,” HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto wrote on March 28 The Hawks have several other players to address, including trade pickups Caris LeVert (deadline) and Larry Nance Jr. (offseason), who ended up missing most of the season with injuries and had to wait to earn a role to begin the campaign Most notably, Trae Young and Dyson Daniels are both extension-eligible this offseason Both sides may have already made up their minds The offseason got more murkier with the front office changes which saw former GM Landry Fields relieved of his duties and Onsi Saleh promoted to general manager This was a mostly successful season for the Hawks This was a young team that had a lot of unknowns heading into the season Dyson Daniels was the perfect backcourt teammate with Trae Young and showed why he is one of the best defenders in the league while improving by leaps and bounds on offense Zaccharie Risacher showed continued improvement and was one of the best rookies in the NBA this season Onyeka Okongwu took over as the starting center and showed that he could hold that position for the Hawks while Jalen Johnson looked like an All-Star If Johnson had not suffered a season-ending injury as well as Larry Nance and Clint Capela getting injured the Hawks might have been a top-six seed in the East One of the biggest parts of the offseason of course is free agency and the Hawks have a few notable players whose contracts will be up this summer. Capela is one of them. Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus named Capela as the Hawks's toughest free agent decision: Capela is one of the longest-tenured Hawks on the team While he is not the force on defense he was when he first arrived in Atlanta he is still pretty solid and the Hawks missed his presence in the middle after he was injured Onyeka Okongwu is the only center under contract and the Hawks will of course have to fill the depth behind him Capela has been one of the most underrated Hawks players since arriving in Atlanta and one of the most consistent He has been the anchor in the middle of the Hawks defense and has had to do a lot of heavy lifting on that end since arriving but this season was a bit different for Capela The season began with Capela still starting for the Hawks Capela was benched in favor of Onyeka Okongwu something that has been speculated about since Okongwu was taken with the 6th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft Capela was once again in trade rumors leading up to the trade deadline and while he was not dealt he then had to deal with injuries that kept him out for a good portion of the season after the deadline who showed signs of aging for the first time since being a Hawks his lowest blockers per game since his rookie season his lowest field goal percentage since his rookie season and his fewest minutes played per game since 2015-2016 Per Cleaning the Glass Capela finished the season with a 2.1% Block Percentage as well as the lowest EFG% since his rookie season and the lowest two-point percentage (56.2%) since his rookie season It was not just a defensive decline for Capela but he was not finishing at the rim and shooting the ball as well as he had in the past Capela had been an elite rim-running lob threat alongside Trae Young in the past as evidenced by his low effective field goal percentage and two-point percentage Capela was still a high-level rebounder though He finished with a 13.9 fgOR% (91st percentile) and a 23 fgDR% That was his top skill and wherever he lands the Hawks sorely missed his presence in the paint later in the season Capela and Larry Nance Jr were both injured late in the season and the Hawks were left with only Okongwu at the center position and Atlanta had a serious size issue with teams being able to use that against them time and again With Capela being an impending free agent this summer should the Hawks consider bringing him back Okongwu is the only center under contract for the Hawks and at the right price Capela could still bring leadership and solid minutes as a backup if healthy was his decline on defense and as a lob threat a sign of things to come or can he bounce back but it does not feel like Capela is going to be back for the Hawks NBA Awards: Atlanta Hawks Shooting Guard Dyson Daniels Wins 2024-25 Most Improved Player New Blockbuster Three-Team Trade Proposal Sends Giannis to Orlando Magic, Hawks Get Okongwu Insurance New Blockbuster Three-Team Trade Proposal Sends Kevin Durant to Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks Upgrade Rotation Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates his brother suggested he switch to basketball Capela met Swiss basketball icon Thabo Sefolosha and became fascinated with hoops Capela joined the Chalon-sur-SaA'ne training center led to Capela eventually playing in the professional French league Capela played two Pro A seasons before declaring for the 2014 NBA Draft Capela joined Elan Chalon in the French league LNB Pro A He played sparingly in seven games and averaged 2.3 points and 3.0 rebounds in 8.0 minutes per contest He also played for the Swiss National Team in the FIBA EuroBasket 2015 qualification rounds The team did not qualify for the tournament Capela was named Best Young Player and Most Improved Player in the French Pro A 7.4 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in Pro A action and put up 11.2 points and 6.5 rebounds in the EuroCup He played in the 2014 Nike Hoop Summit where he was praised for his combination of frame and athletic ability Capela had five points and three rebounds in 14 minutes He subsequently made himself available for the 2014 draft USA; Atlanta Hawks center Clint Capela (15) fights for a rebound with Philadelphia 76ers center Adem Bona (30) and forward Alex Reese (65) during the second half at State Farm Arena Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images An intense offseason awaits the Atlanta Hawks as they navigate pivotal roster decisions and evolving on-court dynamics that could reshape their competitive future The recent season saw the Hawks battle through a play-in tournament loss with their journey punctuated by significant transitions both on and off the court A notable front office shakeup resulted in the departure of a former general manager and the elevation of a promising executive leader the team made considerable strides with a youthful roster that answered many pre-season uncertainties Key contributions came from a dynamic backcourt pairing where one guard emerged as an elite defensive presence while rapidly refining his offensive game a rookie standout impressed across the board further bolstering the team’s future prospects Central to the Hawks’ internal debate is the future of their long-tenured center whose performance this season has prompted reconsideration of his role Once a formidable defensive anchor and an explosive threat at the rim Statistical markers—ranging from his lowest points per game since his second NBA season to diminished shooting efficiency and reduced playing time—reflect a significant downturn Once celebrated for his ability to complete flashy plays alongside the team’s star point guard he now faces scrutiny as declining athleticism and recurring injuries have led to his benching in favor of an emerging center drafted with high expectations The once-unquestionable presence in the paint now appears increasingly vulnerable especially in moments when the side required defensive solidity their strategy at the center position represents a strategic crossroads With the current contract situation leaving only one young center under commitment the debate intensifies on whether reinvesting in a diminished but still reliable veteran could supplement a robust defensive framework whose career-high rebounding remains a highlight now stands at a junction where his role might shift from primary starter to a situational safeguard The offseason will test whether he can reclaim the form of his earlier years or if the organization will turn decisively toward youth and fresh energy This pivotal decision could define the team’s defensive identity in coming seasons the Hawks now face a broader challenge in harmonizing their roster around emerging talent while managing legacy contributions marred yet dignified in its consistency over the years raises questions about the natural evolution of athletic performance against the backdrop of a rapidly changing league His once-elite skills have been tempered by time and injury suggesting an inevitable transition that many storied careers must eventually undergo This season’s experiences underscore a larger narrative prevalent in sports—a blend of tradition and renewal where the imperatives of youth and experience must find a delicate balance one is reminded of the perpetual nature of change in competitive sports The Hawks’ offseason dilemma highlights the broader challenge teams face when measured against the relentless march of progress on the court the franchise’s strategic choices will not only shape its identity but also serve as a testament to adapting tradition within the ever-evolving landscape of professional basketball A High-Stakes Battle in Detroit In a series defined by intensity and precision the Knicks now face a pivotal Game 6 against the Detroit Pistons in a venue.. Electrifying Farewell In a game where hope met heartache a storied chapter in the history of one of basketball's most influential players came to an unexpected close Giannis Antetokounmpo’s looming future in the NBA is poised at a crossroads as trade rumors and roster challenges ignite fresh debate about the superstar’s long-term destination A Moment of High Tension in the Playoffs An electrifying playoff atmosphere quickly morphed into a dramatic confrontation that left many fans in disbelief An electrifying undercurrent runs through the arena as one of the NBA’s marquee figures faces a defining moment in his career With the weight of playoff elimination looming.. © 2025 M Sports - Premium news & magazine M Sports Please enter your username or email address to reset your password © 2025 M Sports - Premium news & magazine M Sports The 2025 Play-In Tournament kicks off with a top-notch clash in the Eastern Conference between the Orlando Magic and the Atlanta Hawks Magic will host the game due to a better finish in the regular season The winner of this game will clinch a spot in the playoffs against the Boston Celtics Orlando Magic (41-41) will eye consecutive playoff appearances with the win It will be the first-ever appearance for Orlando in the Play-In Tournament They are one of the best teams in the league at forcing turnovers ranking 2nd in the NBA with a 16.9% turnover percentage Orlando went 7-3 in their last ten games to lock the Play-In spot and the home-court advantage the Hawks will make their third consecutive appearance in the Play-In Tournament and qualified for the playoffs on the previous two occasions Atlanta have finished the 2024-25 regular season with a record of 40-42 a four-game improvement from last year despite Jalen Johnson missing the majority of the season Let’s figure out the key details from both teams’ injury report and its impact on their performance Also Read: Why Victor Wembanyama is an Official Blocks Leader Despite Not Meeting NBA’s Stat Minimum Requirements? Orlando Magic will have a healthy roster ahead of the Play-In opener Jalen Suggs (knee) and Moritz Wagner (ACL) have been sidelined for the remainder of the season There is no fresh injury concern for the Magic Atlanta Hawks have listed only three players on the injury report and the regular season’s assists leader The four-time All-Star is listed as probable for the crucial Play-In game against the Magic Also Read: 2025 NBA Play-In Tournament: Schedule, Betting Odds & How It Works Larry Nance Jr and Clint Capela will remain out due to hand and knee injuries respectively Onyeka Okongwu can get extra minutes from Quin Snyder and Mouhamed Gueye will be used as the backup five Kobe Bufkin (right shoulder surgery) and Jalen Johnson (left shoulder surgery) will remain out for the remainder of the season Gulshan Sharma is a passionate writer with a love for storytelling he aim to craft engaging and thought-provoking content that resonates with readers Get the biggest stories delivered straight to you - for free you consent to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy nad to receive marketing and account-related emails from The Playoffs The Playoffs has been a go-to source for sports and sports betting enthusiasts Our mission: To help bettors make the best choices with in-depth analysis Our motto: Share our passion for sports and betting our editorial teams work to deliver the most accurate and relevant information so you can place bets with confidence—and most importantly and understand that betting is a form of entertainment—not a way to earn money If gambling stops being enjoyable or starts affecting your life negatively don’t hesitate to seek support or take advantage of self-exclusion tools provided by betting platforms responsible betting is the key to a safe and enjoyable gaming experience DISCLAIMER: This site is 100% for entertainment purposes only and does not involve real money betting COPYRIGHT © 2025 - THE PLAYOFFS - SHARE THE PASSION FOR SPORTS AND BETTING Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application at Saint Anne's Hospital in Fall River Maria's journey was marked by her unwavering dedication to her family Maria was a devoted wife to her late husband Her family was the cornerstone of her life and she poured her heart into nurturing them with love and support She was deeply connected to her extended family providing strength and joy to those around her Maria was known for her passionate commitment to her faith and her church finding purpose and solace in her spiritual devotion leaving a lasting impact on all who were fortunate enough to know her Maria’s legacy will be cherished by her surviving family members and friends and the delicious treats she lovingly crafted at Lucky Loaf Bakery She touched countless lives through her bakery As an influential figure in her family and community Maria Capela’s memory will continue to inspire those who carry forward the values she embodied: love She will be dearly missed by her loved ones and all who had the privilege of knowing her In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Maria's name to the Alzheimer's Association. (Alz.org) or This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors At some point in the not-too-distant future, though, Rob Pelinka and JJ Redick will need to consider what comes next. Pairing Luka Dončić with LeBron James ahead of the trade deadline made L.A. a legitimate postseason threat, but there are areas of the roster that could still be improved. It's no secret that the Lakers are thin at the center position. Jaxson Hayes, when healthy, has proven to fit well with the roster and Redic. However, Los Angeles could use more depth and defense—and that's assuming Hayes returns in free agency. "I think there will be suitors who look at the pedigree of being a former lottery pick and try to poach him from the Lakers." the Lakers should already have an eye on Atlanta Hawks center Clint Capela According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype Capela is expected to leave Atlanta in free agency: "After being benched in favor of Onyeka Okongwu and dangled in trade talks before the deadline the early expectation is Hawks center Clint Capela will sign elsewhere in unrestricted free agency this summer Capela will turn 31 in May and isn't quite the player he was early in his career He's also battled injuries in recent years and is currently sidelined with a ligament injury in his left hand he's still a solid defender and quality rim-protector who would provide valuable depth in L.A.'s rotation he'd be a strong pick-and-roll partner for Dončić the 2021 rebounding champ averaged 8.9 points Capela is a player the Lakers have considered before "This was a guy that the Lakers have had interest in, in the past," Buha said on his Buha's Block podcast in late February (beginning at the 18-minute mark) "...I would assume that he's a guy that goes for at least the taxpayer MLE The financials, of course, will be the tricky part. The Lakers are currently projected to be $4.4 million under the first luxury tax apron, according to Spotrac that's before factoring in a possible Hayes deal or the potential implications of James and/or Dorian Finney-Smith opting out The Lakers have other needs to address as well, like perimeter shooting, so Capela's contract demands could become a critical piece of the equation—he carried a $22.3 million cap hit this season and is probably on the higher end of realistic free-agent targets for L.A With Capela's foray into free agency appearing likely adding him is a move that the Lakers absolutely must consider Before a trade to the Atlanta Hawks Clint Capela was a staple of the Houston Rockets franchise In six seasons of playing with largely the same teammates he went from being a late first-round pick to an H-Town icon He was an elite paint threat who was simultaneously one of the best rim protectors worldwide The six-foot-ten beast was also an absurdly talented rebounder as he mastered the skill of boxing out and creating extra possessions Pairing a big like Capela with arguably the greatest scorer in the world at the time ultimately helped James Harden’s 2018 MVP case 2017-18 was one of the best seasons of Capela’s career and 1.9 blocks while leading the NBA in field goal efficiency at 65.2% Hawks’ executives discussed how Capela would fit into their grand scheme and quickly decided to trade for the Houston legend given how similar to Harden Atlanta’s superstar Trae Young is — someone who is a talented scorer and arguably an even better playmaker Though it took a four-team trade for pieces and salary to go through Atlanta finally received their next franchise big man Capela’s first season with the Hawks went just as expected He received big-time plays from Young and made a strong case for Defensive Player of the Year while shooting 59.4% from the field in 63 games Capela was a major reason Atlanta reached the Eastern Conference Finals averaging a double-double in 31.6 minutes per contest Capela was still great the following season and the one after but his contributions were coming up short compared to those in 2020-21 and left a more negligible impact on the court and years after he was regarded as an elite big man his name entered the trade machine and buyout market The justification behind moving on from Capela is understandable as he has performed below the bar this season He has posted just 9.4 points and 9.0 rebounds per game in 45 games Capela is moving slower and constantly missing easy shot attempts around the rim which soon impacts the wins and losses columns as his shot swatting and ability to end possessions have declined similarly Although Capela was ultimately not traded by the trade deadline his party and the Hawks’ front office should meet to converse about whether to even play for the duration of the season This is likely the wisest decision for the Hawks’ big man as he enters free agency this summer — to both protect his free agency value and give the young Hawks big men a chance to show what they can bring to the table The Atlanta Hawks had plans to trade Clint Capela. However, the 2025 trade deadline came and went without the former rebounding champion changing teams Now comes the unenviable task of Capela reintegrating into the Hawks’ rotation “Clint Capela will be inactive tonight in New York,” the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Lauren L. Williams reported on S on February 12. “Hawks coach Quin Snyder said that Capela is in the process of ramping up and that work will continue through the All-Star Break.” Capela indeed missed his ninth game in a row “Locked On Hawks” host Brad Rowland added further context to Capela’s situation Rowland noted Capela is not a lock to play immediately following the break either “I’m told the expectation is that Clint Capela will be available to play after the All-Star break,” Rowland reported on X on February 12 “(My own note here: “Expectation” does not guarantee anything).” This all comes following a report from NBA insider Jake Fischer that the Hawks entertained trading Capela before the deadline The deal would have landed them Brandon Ingram “The Raptors held talks with the Hawks about acquiring De’Andre Hunter who wound up being traded to Cleveland,” Fischer wrote on February 12 “Sources say that the Cavaliers viewed the Raptors as their foremost threat to landing Hunter while also being cognizant that the Pelicans and Hawks were discussing frameworks that could have sent Ingram to Atlanta and Hunter to New Orleans “In any potential Ingram-to-Atlanta swap, Clint Capela would have headed to the Pelicans Yet it was frequently stressed in the build-up to the deadline that the Hawks were not eager to sign Ingram to an immediate extension.” The Hawks were wise to avoid handing Ingram the three-year $120 million contract extension the Raptors did before seeing him play for their team letting the deadline pass without finding a new home for Capela is an issue Capela is an unrestricted free agent after the season And while he has shown professionalism throughout this ordeal – he could be seen on the Hawks bench chatting up new teammates during a recent game – it would be understandable if Capela wanted to move on The Hawks could lose him for nothing after discussing trade possibilities for the big man since last offseason The Hawks held onto him throughout their dealings with the Pelicans in the talks that resulted in Dejounte Murray going to New Orleans They will not have that option this offseason most likely unless they are prepared to offer Capela another multi-year deal but a team could try to offer Capela a two-year deal on the hope there is some lingering resentment over the situation A buyout could also still be an option but the Hawks have shown no interest in that Capela is a useful player off the bench behind Onyeka Okongwu even as the former's production has waned at this point of his career The Hawks missed their opportunity to ensure they extract future value from the 30-year-old center But he can still help them the rest of the way this season “Clint Capela will be inactive tonight in New York,” the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Lauren L. Williams reported on S on February 12. “Hawks coach Quin Snyder said that Capela is in the process of ramping up and that work will continue through the All-Star Break.” “I’m told the expectation is that Clint Capela will be available to play after the All-Star break,” Rowland reported on X on February 12 “In any potential Ingram-to-Atlanta swap, Clint Capela would have headed to the Pelicans The Hawks held onto him throughout their dealings with the Pelicans in the talks that resulted in Dejounte Murray going to New Orleans A buyout could also still be an option The Hawks veteran is left in an awkward situation Clint Capela is in his fifth season as the starting center for your Atlanta Hawks Despite the Hawks splashing the sixth overall pick way back in the 2020 draft on someone thought be his eventual successor Capela has since held him off in the years since and even started in all 25 of the Hawks’ games this season his fewest minutes per game since his second year in the league Capela’s defense remains a large reason why the team has bounced back in that area this season (alongside Dyson Daniels and others But Capela doesn’t always close games for this team and at the age of 30 he doesn’t possess the same range or lift we’re used to on the court And while he’s regained some of his touch around the basket so far this season he’s surely been tossed in many a trade machine by fans looking to upgrade that position And his expiring $22.3 million contract and upcoming free agency increase the urgency to cash in while you can But what about the other expiring veteran center on the roster If Capela clearly has value to this team given the minutes allotment Nance turns 32 on the first of January and makes roughly $10.4 million this year has shot extremely well from beyond the arc But he’s only appeared in 10 games this season largely cast out of the rotation when all of Jalen Johnson Is there any interest from around the league for either of them And would the Hawks be willing to part with either of them but national insiders just may have some intel nuggets This from Marc Stein, NBA insider, in a recent on his substack blog, The Stein Line The Hawks continue to rebuff all trade interest in versatile veteran forward Larry Nance Jr just as they did throughout the offseason after Nance arrived in Atlanta alongside defensive ace Dyson Daniels in the Dejounte Murray trade Clint Capela is regarded as the Atlanta big man most available this Trade Season The Knicks explored the prospect of acquiring Capela (who is playing on an expiring $22.3 million contract) before completing their late-September trade to land Karl-Anthony Towns from Minnesota I don’t imagine the Hawks would look to shake up their roster this far out from the Thursday But one date to watch before then is December 15 when players acquired this offseason like Cody Zeller Should the Hawks deal one of their centers Could be the end of the road for the revered vets We may be in store for a busy trade deadline The Hawks currently sit at 22-26 — still in the mix for the Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament — but will have to forge on without Jalen Johnson for the remainder of the season their own first-round pick is out the door but they do have the Lakers’ unprotected first-round pick and possibly Sacramento’s as well this season Clint Capela and Bogdan Bogdanovic have been important members to the team since the 2020-21 season but recently the pair has been held out of competition for health and ‘away from team’ reasons per the organization All that has led to speculation that one or both may be moved prior to Thursday’s trade deadline Marc Stein posted on his Substack blog on Thursday 9:30 AM about Bogdan Bogdanovic’s possible availability: It has been known for some time that Atlanta is willing to trade veteran center Clint Capela but league sources say that the Hawks have begun actively exploring the trade market for their own perimeter specialist: Bogdan Bogdanović Bogdanović has not shot the ball anywhere close to his usual standards this season at 37.1% from the field and 30.1% from deep Yet he still has fans around the league and has to be monitored closely given the credible whispers this week that he could be on the move Any interested team has to be comfortable with the contractual realities on Bogdanović: The 32-year-old has one guaranteed year left on his contract and $16 million in 2025-26 before a $16 million team option (rather than player option) in 2026-27 including a nod to the reporting of Michael Scotto of HoopsHype: Sources have informed The Arizona Republic the Suns have been talking to teams throughout the league about trading 7-footer Jusuf Nurkic with the Atlanta Hawks being one of those teams Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported this week the Suns are looking to pair up one of the first-round picks they obtained from Utah with Nurkic to acquire a “high-level” rotation player Just looking at the Hawks and based on contracts alone the Suns could trade Nurkic and a first-round pick for guard Bogdan Bogdanovic Finally, on Friday there came reporting from Brian Windhorst of ESPN involving Brandon Ingram on Get Up: Brandon Ingram is a guy who’s been on the trade block for months [...] I’m seeing a little bit of a warmup in some talks between [Ingram and Zach LaVine] They just lost their star wing Jalen Johnson for the season They may start to get interested in making a move Brad Rowland of the Locked on Hawks podcast echoes those rumors that he’s heard buzz surrounding this situation Windy mentions the Hawks and Brandon Ingram.FWIW — I have also heard some buzz there. https://t.co/9PIpplUEJh the Hawks are making phone calls and exploring different scenarios for trades that may or may not happen by Thursday afternoon Ingram, in particular, is a surprising to Atlanta given his reported desire to land a large contract in the offseason He’s only appeared in 18 games to this point but he’s a proven 20+ point-per-game scorer and can aide in turning around the Hawks’ shooting struggles...at least for the final two months of the season and health permitting saying it’s “not new territory.” “People probably know that this isn’t the first time I’ve been a part of a team with young guys and where they wanted me to lead,” he said “I think this is really what they wanted me to do this year It’s more about how I can bring the young guys along and build them up and build their confidence up as much as possible.” who was in the midst of his best NBA season before it was ended in January by a torn labrum in his left shoulder Young will become eligible for an extension this summer but he sidestepped a question from Scotto about whether he expects to sign a new deal “I’m still stuck in the moment right now and not really focusing on that right now,” he said Trae has become a much better leader and more mature player He never really wanted the weight of being the company man and keep people going Since accepting his overall game and impact on the team is much better Trae is 50 games under .500 in 7 years with ATL in the weaker conf where 35~40% of teams are happy to lose every year I don’t think leading should be included anywhere in the article Imo he is on Mount Rushmore for most overated players today..Dont double down and extend this dude ATL!!! His 7 year record has fully shown you his lack of capabilities on winning Register Register In Atlanta’s most recent win over the Heat Capela had his best performance since returning from a nine-game absence after the All-Star break Clint Capela is finally back and playing in the rotation for the Hawks Capela dropped eight points and 11 rebounds with a pair of steals and a +2 plus-minus It is good to see him back in action after this season’s murkiness surrounding his future with the Hawks the Hawks have lost two straight to Miami then Oklahoma City In Atlanta’s latest loss against the Thunder Capela had zero points in just over 10 minutes of play Earlier in February, the 30-year-old big man endured an especially rocky trade deadline. Reports suggested that Atlanta had tried to deal Capela but ended up backing out of a trade that would have sent him and De’Andre Hunter to New Orleans for Brandon Ingram The team largely cited personal reasons for Capela’s recent stretch of missed games, indicating that the Swiss center was ready to move on from the Hawks the same way they seemed ready to move on from him the team has reintegrated him into the rotation as Onyeka Okongwu’s backup While Capela still provides valuable rebounding and veteran leadership with his presence the Hawks are clearly faring better with Big O holding it down at the five Capela has posted a -37 plus-minus compared to Okongwu’s +3 mark during the same five-game stretch Young gun Mouhamed Gueye has started seven straight contests but his minutes have not been significant either It seems like Capela’s playing time is right where it should be and fans probably wouldn’t bat an eye if the vet’s minutes actually took a slight hit The Hawks have won one of their last five outings, and the team has made multiple signings to try and give themselves a boost in depth. Atlanta converted Dominick Barlow’s two-way contract into a two-year standard deal The young big man could feasibly steal some of Capela’s minutes if his first-ever standard NBA contract gives him the kind of confidence that fellow youngsters like Gueye have parlayed into important roles for the Hawks Atlanta also signed homegrown talent Kevon Harris to a 10-day contract bringing the G League standout on board for the first time since his Hawks stints from preseason and training camp Capela exhibited faith in the team’s second unit with his recent comments for the Atlanta-Journal Constitution “It’s a big difference because they don’t hesitate to communicate and figure it out,” Capela told Lauren Williams of the AJC “Situations whenever we caught up in something defensively the Hawks bench has ranked seventh in the NBA in points per game but second-worst in plus-minus Quin Snyder may need to further tinker with his rotations to get Atlanta back on track and that may or may not result in fewer minutes for Capela ","https://fansided.com/",{"alt":"66","src":"67","url":"68"},{"type":"65","value":"69"},"link","Minute Media","https://www.minutemedia.com/",{"text":"6c","url":"6d"},{"type":"6b","value":"6e"},"All Rights Reserved Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Minute Media or its affiliates and related brands covering the Atlanta Hawks as a sports journalist based in Atlanta He has been writing about the NBA since 2022 covering three different NBA teams for FanSided: the Atlanta Hawks He was previously an NBA writer for NBA Analysis Network and a contributor for 8 Points 9 Seconds (FanSided’s Indiana Pacers page) Earlier in February, the 30-year-old big man endured an especially rocky trade deadline. Reports suggested that Atlanta had tried to deal Capela but ended up backing out of a trade that would have sent him and De’Andre Hunter to New Orleans for Brandon Ingram The team largely cited personal reasons for Capela’s recent stretch of missed games, indicating that the Swiss center was ready to move on from the Hawks the same way they seemed ready to move on from him Young gun Mouhamed Gueye has started seven straight contests The Hawks have won one of their last five outings, and the team has made multiple signings to try and give themselves a boost in depth. Atlanta converted Dominick Barlow’s two-way contract into a two-year standard deal “It’s a big difference because they don’t hesitate to communicate and figure it out,” Capela told Lauren Williams of the AJC The Hawks have struggled since Clint Capela's return to the rotation It’s worth noting that Atlanta says Capela will be reevaluated in three-to-four weeks not that he’s expected to return at that time The 30-year-old underwent an MRI on Monday which revealed the injury Although the Hawks didn’t outright say it Capela will almost certainly miss the remainder of the 2024/25 regular season Depending on how they fare in the postseason — they’re currently the No 7 seed in the East — it’s possible he might be able to return at some point later next month It’s unclear when Capela sustained the injury, but Lauren L. Williams of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution hears it occurred earlier this month and he initially tried to play through it (Twitter link) with his most recent injury designation being personal reasons Capela was a longtime starter for the Hawks, but the Swiss big man was moved to the second unit in late January, having been supplanted by Onyeka Okongwu 8.5 rebounds and 1.0 block in 55 games this season (21.4 minutes per contest) who has been out since mid-February due to a knee injury He’s set to be reevaluated next week It’s a disappointing setback on a personal level as well — Capela will be an unrestricted free agent this summer That figures to continue for the time being Didn’t even realize he was still on the hawks A significant portion of the fanbase has desired — really for multiple years now — to move on from center Clint Capela It all came to a head last season when Capela’s shooting percentage plummeted from 65% in 2022-23 to 57% in 2023-24 He’s averaging just 10 points on just 23 minutes per game he has trouble with five-foot hook shots from time to time and you can’t tell the story of the defensive turnaround without his play so far this season This Hawks defense is improved — actually much improved. As of right now, they have a 114.3 defensive rating which ranks 18th in the league That’s up (or down?) from a 119.4 defensive rating that ranked 27th ghastly even in an inflated offensive environment Dyson Daniels has been a one-man wrecking crew on the perimeter and Zaccharie Risacher has hit the ground running as a defensive wing/forward presence at the ripe age of 19 Per Dunksandthrees, Capela currently leads the team in EPM (expected plus-minus, an all-inclusive stat that includes camera tracking data). He’s also currently a 92nd percentile defender in the league with the only Hawk above him the Great Barrier Thief himself Capela is right now the leading offensive rebounder in the league at least in terms of grabbing the highest percentage of available offensive rebounds among players that qualify he alone is giving the Hawks a second possession roughly every sixth time a missed shot comes available for grabs And he only trails Karl Anthony-Towns, a player often flanked by the 6-foot-4 Josh Hart at power forward, in total rebounding percentage so far But the interior defense is what is truly propping up his value Newsflash: he is still an elite shot stopper at the rim but it’s extremely impactful in limiting the easiest opportunities for opposing offenses the field goal percentages allowed when defending shots in the paint broken up by height tiers: Lowest FG% allowed on shots in the paint by defenders of different heights. pic.twitter.com/rCMj9VJIPZ And if you narrow that down to shots defended at the rim (withing the 3-foot restricted area), Capela shows up in the top-15 in the league among all players that have logged at least 600 minutes so far this season per the NBA’s stats as of December 16 These metrics point to one conclusion: Clint Capela remains a high-level defensive center Capela had reportedly come into past seasons harboring various lower body ailments had to work himself back into better shape by the second half of the season But after an offseason without postseason play for the first time since 2020 Capela looks more mobile and burst-y than year’s past harboring back to his days in 2020-21 when he was undoubtedly one of the best defenders in the world After experimenting with bringing bigs up to and above the level of ball screens the Hawks are back to primarily having Capela and other bigs defend below the level of the screen This is made possible because of the improved screen navigation from the Hawks’ perimeter players compared to year’s past and Capela’s drop defense remains a huge strength for him and the team as a whole After getting square to stop Darius Garland’s path to the rim in the below clip Capela recovers and absolutely shuts the door on Donovan Mitchell Capela remains the anchor and lead communicator on the floor Watch as he stunts from the nail when his man And then he ranges over to stuff Giannis Antetokounmpo just for good measure And Capela simply looks very agile in the early part of the season That’s allowed him to switch out onto guards and hold his own at times like he would routinely during his tenure in Houston with the Rockets look how quick his jump off the floor is to meet Antetokounmpo at the rim in the following video that’s not to say the Hawks should be wedded to Clint Capela long term The Swiss international is approaching the end of his contract — plus an extension the team agreed with him on almost three seasons go As an upcoming unrestricted free agent who turns 31 in May he is a center in the archetype (one without much in the way of modern offensive skill) that the league increasingly values less and less as it’s hard to position Capela away from the dunker spot to open the floor up for drivers and cutters in an era where space is at a premium The Hawks are really struggling to shoot the three this season. They have a bottom-five three-point rate and are bottom-10 in three-point shooting percentage as of the writing of this Capela obviously doesn’t help in this regard and it’s clear the offense has largely been propped up by Trae Young’s passing brilliance and timely off-ball moving After years of being a perennial top-10 offense, the Hawks are now middle of the pack and sliding Additionally, he finds himself at the center (pun intended) of trade rumors as an expiring contract Capela’s lack of offensive versatility is quickly becoming a dinosaur in the pace-and-space era of basketball and the Hawks will eventually have to see a different solution there But the thinking that now was the time to install Onyeka Okongwu — who just hasn’t shown nearly the proficiency defending at the rim or as an overall player — as the starting center just as his rookie extension kicks in has proven to be premature Clint Capela has been very valuable to this resurgent Hawks team especially on the side of the ball that’s often overlooked and forgotten It’s time to put an end to the visceral moans and groans at every Capela misstep I hear them in State Farm Arena every home game and see them all too much online So maybe next time he blows a bunny at the rim remember all of the layups he prevents at the other end Apologies are absolutely warranted for the defensive pillar of the 14-13 Hawks It’s not too late to send messages of appreciation instead Will he continue to be the starting center Clint Capela is entering his 10th season in the league which is tied for the highest on this young Atlanta Hawks For years Capela has been the defensive anchor for the Hawks but last season it was evident there was a drop off in his game but when you take a deeper dive into his numbers there were some concerns One of them was his ability to finish at the rim There are times when Capela grabs an offensive rebound and goes back up and misses or he would fail to connect on an alley-oop from Trae Young The Hawks center is still one of the best rebounders in the league but it’s all about what he does after he grabs them With Capela being one of the bigger players on the court he also struggled to finish over smaller players in the paint It’s evident that Young loves playing with Capela and that reason is because of their success in the pick-and-roll Young is dangerous in those situations because he can either score on his own pass it to an open teammate or find the roll-man for a dunk That’s where Capela has thrived in the league and any decline in that skill could hurt the Hawks With the Hawks getting more shooting around the perimeter it may help the offense and also help Capela have the paint to himself but it still hurts that he doesn’t have much of an offensive game himself The Hawks have added some versatility in the frontcourt that can stretch the floor which will open up a lot for their offense Capela has had to transition to guarding up on the perimeter instead of playing drop coverage When he’s in his element as an anchor in the paint Capela is still disrupting shots at a high level and he caused the opposing team to shoot 59% at the rim The Hawks will need Capela once again to be productive on the defensive glass Injuries in the frontcourt did not help that cause at all but if the team can come in at the beginning of the season healthy The big question is what Capela’s role will be this season and if he will be on the Hawks for the entire season so it will be interesting if any other teams come up in rumors as the season progresses With what the Hawks have been trying to do on both sides of the ball since Quin Snyder has been the head coach Onyeka Okongwu fits the bill more than Capela There has been a lot of talk around the fanbase on what center should be in the starting lineup but it’s evident that it’s more important who is finishing games and it will all depend on the matchup and other factors Capela had started 313 of 316 games since arriving in Atlanta in February 2020 and hadn’t come off the bench since Jan Capela has averaged 9.3 points — his lowest output since the 2016/17 season with Houston — and 9.0 boards in 41 starts this season 3.3 assists and 1.7 blocks in his last three games off the bench He supplied 14 points and nine rebounds in 28 minutes in his first start this season as the Hawks fell to the Knicks 119-110 Capela played 20 minutes and contributed 12 points nine rebounds and two blocks in his bench role though his $22.2MM salary could be a stumbling block in trade negotiations Snyder was not asked about the lineup switch during his post-game press conference (YouTube link) so it’s uncertain whether the change is a short- or long-term move Maybe they could consider trading him or Hunter Bufkin and Roddy with picks for a all star C the same age as Trae and Maybe get a back up PG too waive Barlow and sign a young(19-22) C and PG on two way contracts a move they would like to facilitate by finding a trade for starting center Clint Capela before the February 6 deadline The Atlanta Hawks are rumored to be keen on moving Onyeka Okongwu into the starting lineup How serious the Hawks are about trading Capela likely depends on the source But there is a clear need the Hawks can address by trading the pending free agent Here are three potential targets that would fit the Hawks’ needs for a backup point guard The New York Knicks were one of the teams that inquired about trading for Capela It makes sense to revisit those talks amid their continued interest in bolstering their frontcourt The Hawks had an affinity for Quinton Grimes Deuce McBride is a 2-guard but he is built like a point guard He also defends and can create offense for himself He would give the Hawks a similar enough to Trae Young as an aggressive scorer when the three-time All-Star sits or has to miss time McBride is nowhere near the passer that Young is McBride is averaging career highs with 10.4 points and 2.7 rebounds per game entering play on Christmas The number of useful players the Knicks would have to give up in this deal could be prohibitive Former starting center Mitchell Robinson is injured But he could be a worthwhile flier with one more season on his contract after this one Precious Aciuwa’s inclusion could be a step too far if the other stipulations are not enough this is the best way to make a deal work without a) including the Knicks’ top five players or b) forcing the Hawks to reshape their whole roster The Hawks could also look to build off their newfound defensive strength and find a solid complement for Dyson Daniels who is making a strong case for Defensive Player of the Year consideration What better player to do that than 2021-22 DPOY Marcus Smart and he has not shot the three-ball well since 2020 But he remains a savvy veteran who plays hard-nosed defense when healthy A Daniels-Smart backcourt would be a nightmare for opposing guards. And, sneakily, he is one of 43 players since 2014-15 to have a usage rate of 17% or greater with a turnover rate below 16% while logging at least 18,000 minutes, per Stathead Only 14 of those players are guards by Stathead’s qualifications The Athletic’s John Hollinger believes a starting center is the Grizzlies’ biggest trade need Capela is a non-threat offensively outside of lobs and some putbacks But he is solid if unspectacular defensively in the paint and still works harder than most on the glass Let’s get the controversy out of the way and go for a target the Hawks have already been said to not want: D’Angelo Russell Russell can still be an effective piece to a contending puzzle the Hawks should be able to extract some draft capital along with him given they are surrendering the better player in the deal Russell would fit nicely on a Hawks bench that is already potent He would not have to be the primary facilitator with Vit Krejci emerging as the current best option on the roster And there are plenty of aggressive scorers who can create for themselves not to leave Russell in a position to play hero ball Bogdan Bogdanovic and De’Andre Hunter are both starting-caliber players Russell is also an unrestricted free agent after the season so extracting draft capital from the Lakers is key lest the Hawks make a lateral move But Russell is a better fit and target than he may seem Would the Lakers be willing to part with one of their best trade anchors in Russell’s salary a recent first-round pick in Hood-Schifino Perhaps; if they are desperate to maximize LeBron James and Anthony Davis’ window The New York Knicks were one of the teams that inquired about trading for Capela The Hawks had an affinity for Quinton Grimes A Daniels-Smart backcourt would be a nightmare for opposing guards. And, sneakily, he is one of 43 players since 2014-15 to have a usage rate of 17% or greater with a turnover rate below 16% while logging at least 18,000 minutes, per Stathead Only 14 of those players are guards by Stathead’s qualifications 1) 0ms;transition:background-color 150ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;transition:fill 120ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;font-size:inherit;}.css-v4v4rs{-webkit-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;user-select:none;width:1em;height:1em;display:inline-block;fill:currentColor;-webkit-flex-shrink:0;-ms-flex-negative:0;flex-shrink:0;-webkit-transition:fill 120ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;font-size:inherit;}@media (min-width:0px){.css-v4v4rs{display:block;}}@media (min-width:1100px){.css-v4v4rs{display:none;}}.css-mps3fk{-webkit-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;user-select:none;width:1em;height:1em;display:inline-block;fill:currentColor;-webkit-flex-shrink:0;-ms-flex-negative:0;flex-shrink:0;-webkit-transition:fill 120ms cubic-bezier(0.4 the Atlanta Hawks are ready to make him a starter and have started exploring trade options for Clint Capela It's a little strange the Hawks would look to subtract from their roster because they've been a pleasant surprise so far this season. They just advanced to the semifinals of the NBA Cup, winning a group that included the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers. but they could certainly be a playoff team in the Eastern Conference that currently only has seven teams over the .500 mark the Hawks are better off seeing if they can add future draft capital or possibly even a young player in exchange for Capela He's 30 years old and has seen his role on the team decline as Okongwu has become an integral part of head coach Quin Snyder's rotation ESPN's Bobby Marks noted the Hawks are $1.3 million under the luxury tax and has four trade exceptions ranging from $3.7 million to $25.3 million that could be used Their most glaring needs are for a perimeter defender and backup point guard to ease the burden on Trae Young Okongwu is scoring more than Capela this season (11.3 points per game to 10.0). Capela has the advantage in rebounding (9.4 to 6.6) and blocks (1.0 to 0.6). He's still an effective player who provides quality defense in the paint for a contending team looking for help at center. December 15 is the next landmark date in the NBA regarding trades It is uncertain what that will mean for the Atlanta Hawks' plans even with more than two months until the actual trade deadline in February One move that has been pushed by fans and media alike for some time is moving on from Clint Capela But there are even more reasons to do so for now and in the future it would seem the Hawks already have Capela’s replacement But we can look beyond that to find upgrades at the position given Okongwu’s inconsistency and undersized physical stature First up is the Chicago Bulls who have two-time All-Star Nikola Vucevic a potentially better fit for the Hawks than he may seem at first blush And the Hawks could sure up their backup PG role with one of his teammates That offensive versatility is exactly what the Hawks would be hoping to add Capela is the (far) superior defensive option And the Hawks’ defense falls off significantly when the former rebounding champ is off the floor Defending the pick-and-roll with Vucevic and Trae Young would be a chore Vucevic has not been the hindrance he typically is this season He would give the Hawks star a different type of outlet target albeit not with the same explosiveness as Capela but with the added element of flaring out for a catch-and-shoot triple The Hawks would have the defenders to place between the two All-Stars narrowing their range of defensive concerns The offense would truly be a five-out group Sending Bufkin and Capela’s expiring contract might not entice Chicago now the Bulls have more incentive than the Hawks to remain at or near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings Chicago can only retain its 2025 first-round pick (currently owed to the San Antonio Spurs) if it falls in the top-10 the Hawks would target Ayo Dosunmu over Carter And it is debatable how much a move like this would even raise the Hawks’ ceiling They have not had the current group together and healthy much this season so it is difficult to even say what their ceiling is The big knock against Deandre Ayton throughout his career has been a lack of consistent engagement Ayton has often looked disengaged and disinterested in the game and at critical moments during his career You know how you keep a(n uber-talented) big man engaged Getting bigs the rock – rewarding them for defensive efforts or running the floor on offense – is vital to maximizing their impact There are none better at feeding the bigs than Young who has a reliable target in Capela but could find an even better connection with Ayton The Blazers big man is averaging 13.3 points but the Hawks are not a shot-blocking team anyway Ayton is also shooting a career-high 38.5% from beyond the arc on a career-high 1.2 deep attempts per game The Hawks would be adding roughly $4 million in salary with this move But they would clarify their center position and could still utilize Onyeka Okongwu as a super sub at both center and power forward The Blazers would shed salary and add a former first-round pick That is why the Hawks likely have to include draft capital It is costly but could prove worth it in the long run especially if they protect themselves as outlined above But he is averaging a career-high 25 assists and posted back-to-back campaigns with at least 11.8 PG and 9.2 RPG coming into the 2024-25 season Claxton is a switchy big that would fit in many of the same ways Ayton would Whereas Ayton can space the floor – Claxton can too he has just eliminated the shot from his diet – his Nets counterpart influences the game defensively The Hawks could get greedy and try to pry Dennis Schroder loose too But he is a starter in Brooklyn and would likely cost too much more to make it a worthwhile deal for the Hawks to straddle two timelines This deal would give the Hawks the same benefits as the others while not costing any of their youth and leaving one unprotected could be an understandable non-starter for Hawks general manager Landry Fields But the Nets have not traded Claxton yet so it could take a strong offer to get a deal done The Hawks would add money to their books in this deal But they could alleviate that potential issue by making deals with some of their other players who have drawn interest in recent months so this deal (and the one for Ayton) would have to wait until then ","https://fansided.com/",{"alt":"7s","src":"7t","url":"7u"},{"type":"7r","value":"7v"},"link","Minute Media","https://www.minutemedia.com/",{"text":"7y","url":"7z"},{"type":"7x","value":"80"},"All Rights Reserved He is a credentialed reporter covering the Chicago Bears professionally since 2018 and for Clocker Sports since 2022 He is also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America It is uncertain what that will mean for the Atlanta Hawks' plans One move that has been pushed by fans and media alike for some time is moving on from Clint Capela The Hawks should at least explore their options "After being benched in favor of Onyeka Okongwu and dangled in trade talks before the deadline, the early expectation is Hawks center Clint Capela will sign elsewhere in unrestricted free agency this summer," Scotto wrote. Despite a reduced role, Capela should still have a solid market in the offseason as teams look to shore up the center position. While he may be elsewhere next season, Atlanta will hope he can contribute to the team's quest for a playoff berth. The Hawks are currently 35-38, good for seventh in the Eastern Conference. The team is 5.5 games behind the Milwaukee Bucks for the sixth seed, which would help the team avoid the play-in tournament. they have run into multiple roadblocks to completing a deal Capela’s production is most notable among them The Atlanta Hawks have shown a desire to move on from former starting center Clint Capela before the trade deadline The ex-rebounding champ is short of averaging a double-double for the first time in his tenure with Capela’s $22.3 million salary in the final year of a two-year The Hawks also made a notable change to Capela’s designation ahead of tonight’s matchup against the San Antonio Spurs. Capela, who has missed the last four games with what the team called “bask spasms” is now listed as out due to “personal reasons.” An @emoryhealthcare injury report for tonight’s game vs. San Antonio:Trae Young (right Achilles tendinitis): Probable Bogdan Bogdanovic (not with team): OutKobe Bufkin (right shoulder surgery): OutClint Capela (personal reasons): OutJalen Johnson (left shoulder surgery):… pic.twitter.com/sihLea28Pe His 57.3% eFG is the third-worst mark of his career Capela’s only campaigns that were worse were in 2023-24 with the Hawks and as a rookie in 2014-15 when he appeared in 12 games Clint Capela’s situation could lead to buyout The Hawks’ decision to switch Capela into a reserve role and start Onyeka Okongwu followed rumors about the Hawks’ preference between the two It was the first actionable step toward parting ways with the veteran big man The Hawks acquired Capela ahead of the 2020-21 season He immediately established himself on the glass and as an anchor defensively. He still boasts the second-best on-off differential on the team Capela only trails second-year guard Kobe Bufkin in the category. Bufkin played just 117 qualifying minutes before he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury Capela has the best mark among Hawks players with at least 1,000 minutes on the floor this season He is in special company in that group Jalen Johnson, also out for the season is the only other player with at least 1,000 minutes logged and a positive defensive differential the Hawks must exhaust every option before deciding to buy Capela out of the final year of his contract They have not shown any inclination to make such a move choosing to hold onto Cody Zeller amid his bout with “not with team.” Capela is far more valuable and has been a useful member of the rotation this season the Hawks could do worse than welcoming Capela back and reinserting him into the rotation The question is whether or not that is what he wants The shift from a back issue to “personal reasons” could signal that Capela is as ready to move on as the Hawks are But without confirmation from either side about the current situation Having potential avenues closed off has not helped the Hawks either Meanwhile, the Hawks’ players are left to navigate the uncertainty The Hawks also made a notable change to Capela’s designation ahead of tonight’s matchup against the San Antonio Spurs. Capela, who has missed the last four games with what the team called “bask spasms” is now listed as out due to “personal reasons.” An @emoryhealthcare injury report for tonight’s game vs. San Antonio:Trae Young (right Achilles tendinitis): Probable Bogdan Bogdanovic (not with team): OutKobe Bufkin (right shoulder surgery): OutClint Capela (personal reasons): OutJalen Johnson (left shoulder surgery):… pic.twitter.com/sihLea28Pe The Hawks’ decision to switch Capela into a reserve role and start Onyeka Okongwu followed rumors about the Hawks’ preference between the two He immediately established himself on the glass and as an anchor defensively. He still boasts the second-best on-off differential on the team Capela only trails second-year guard Kobe Bufkin in the category. Bufkin played just 117 qualifying minutes before he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury He is in special company in that group Jalen Johnson, also out for the season Having potential avenues closed off has not helped the Hawks either Meanwhile, the Hawks’ players are left to navigate the uncertainty. The Hawks could have to manage an untenable situation. but the upcoming summer certainly looms large They have several players on expiring contracts The Atlanta Hawks have more immediate issues to worry about than the offseason $46 million contract and will be an unrestricted free agent after the campaign Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus listed Capela as the Hawks’ “most likely flight risk.” “Many free-agent decisions speak more to whether the team wants to spend money to keep a player and less on who might steal them,” Pincus wrote on March 25. “The Hawks must decide if Clint Capela is their starting center of the future or whether they should hand the reins to 24-year-old Onyeka Okongwu Capela is taller (6'10") than Okongwu (6'8") but he's almost 31 and has slowed with age “The Hawks can look for a center in the draft (via the Los Angeles Lakers and/or Sacramento Kings' first-rounders) or in free agency although he'll undoubtedly be taking a pay cut from his $22.3 million salary this season He should sign a new deal in the $5-14 million-per-year range.” Capela opened the 2024-25 season – his fifth with the Hawks – as the starter in mid-January It also all but signaled Capela’s time in Atlanta was near an end Capela has not played since March 10, sidelined by a hand injury that may have effectively ended his season and Hawks tenure in one fell swoop Capela may indeed be the Hawks’ greatest flight risk That does not mean they are dreading or even unprepared to lose him this offseason It does make their decision to hold onto him at the trade deadline look short-sighted though his injury woes have underscored that Pincus listed three others as potential flight risks for the Hawks Mathews has been sparingly used this season despite his surprising contributions during the 2023-24 campaign. Nance too found playing time difficult to come by consistently before suffering what also threatens to be his final game as a Hawk LeVert is the conundrum LeVert is the Hawks’ second-leading scorer and playing the fourth-most minutes since the trade deadline This version of the Hawks will not be the one that takes the floor in 2025-26 no matter how well they fare in the postseason They will have Jalen Johnson back next season But a number of other players figure to be replaced this coming summer “Many free-agent decisions speak more to whether the team wants to spend money to keep a player and less on who might steal them,” Pincus wrote on March 25. “The Hawks must decide if Clint Capela is their starting center of the future or whether they should hand the reins to 24-year-old Onyeka Okongwu Capela has not played since March 10, sidelined by a hand injury that may have effectively ended his season and Hawks tenure in one fell swoop Mathews has been sparingly used this season despite his surprising contributions during the 2023-24 campaign. Nance too found playing time difficult to come by consistently before suffering what also threatens to be his final game as a Hawk LeVert is the conundrum The Hawks appear to have chosen their stance Indiana has had to gauge the trade market around the league in the hope that a trade could come about Currently Indiana doesn't have much behind Myles Turner making it almost a necessity for the front office to make a move In a proposed mock trade from Nathaniel Holloway of The Sporting News the Pacers land star center Clint Capela from the Atlanta Hawks Here is what the proposed deal would look like: "Capela would fit in well in Indiana’s second unit as a backup to Turner He is a reliable scorer and defender who would improve the second unit and could also fill in as a starter if Turner or Siakam were to miss time While this trade does not make the Pacers a top team in the East adding a player like Capela could help them bounce back and once again make a deep run in the playoffs at the end of the season." Adding Capela could heavily increase the Pacers' chances in the Eastern Conference Capela has been one of the better rebounders in the NBA for years and pairing him with Turner could be a great idea especially against some of the other teams in the East Capela is a free agent at the end of the season so landing him would be a risk But he could also serve as an insurance option for the Pacers in the event Turner leaves in free agency Indiana would get to see how Capela played in the system and he would likely cost less per year than Turner Capela would give the Pacers a solid addition ahead of the trade deadline More Pacers: Pacers Being Given Surprising Odds to Win 2025 NBA Title All-Star Centers' Expected Trade Cost Should Excite Pacers Pacers Star In Line to Earn Massive Payday in 2025 Free Agency MATT LEVINEMatt earned a Master of Science degree in Sport Management from Louisiana State University in 2021. He was born and raised in the Los Angeles area, covering all Southern California sports in his career. the Lakers were eliminated from playoff contention Luka Doncic and LeBron James were unable to power Los Angeles past the first round One of the clear needs throughout the series was finding a legitimate center At the deadline when the Lakers acquired Doncic, they also agreed to a trade with the Charlotte Hornets for Mark Williams the team found something they didn't like during his physical and rescinded the trade who could Los Angeles look to bring in to fill the center need that was so obvious Here are four potential options who could be realistic additions for the Lakers One potential fit could be playing for the Celtics in the playoffs right now Horford is set to become a free agent and could be a perfect short-term fix for Los Angeles He averaged 9.0 points per game to go along with 6.2 rebounds and brought solid interior defense as well Those skills would fit the Lakers' needs well Free AgencyMaking a move for Lopez could also make sense for Los Angeles He can stretch the floor to knock down the three but he's also a good rebounder and a capable defender He's not going to carry a team to the playoffs but he could be exactly the kind of big man role player that helps take the Lakers to the next level He has had yet another elite season defensive for the Pacers and has shown the ability to put up good offensive numbers as well Throughout the course of the 2024-25 campaign He shot 48.1% from the floor and 39.6% from 3-point range Turner would be the best possible option for the Lakers they could go with a defender and rebounder in the form of Capela He isn't going to put up big scoring numbers but he would protect the rim and rebound well Stan Son provides insights into which Hawks center is the better option Back when the Ball brothers made Chino Hill High School a household name there was another player that kept catching the eye of scouts as Onyeka Okongwu flashed athleticism and was flushing down oops from LaMelo Ball Okongwu then attended USC for one year and performed well 1.2 steals and 2.7 blocks while shooting 61% from the field The rise continued into the 2020 NBA Draft, as the Atlanta Hawks selected him with the sixth overall pick Then all of us fantasy nerds kept dreaming of the replication of the Chino Hills days But the Hawks traded for Clint Capela prior to the draft more of a rim protector and an awesome lob threat for Young going from 12 minutes a game his rookie season to 20.7 Capela is 30 years old and entering the final year of his contract Is now the time for Okongwu to make all us fantasy nerds giddy inside Capela has started but played 20 and 22 minutes Okongwu has played 28 and 26 minutes off the bench the range of production has been cavernous for Okongwu eight rebounds and three blocks in the first game and put up only seven points minutes are half the battle and Okongwu is winning that battle so far He’s still only 23 years old and will only get better with more reps and experience The Crown Is Yours: Sign up for DraftKings and experience the ultimate host for games and betting experiences I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is sontzu) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information The Crown Is Yours: Sign up for DraftKings and experience the ultimate host for games and betting experiences All odds and lines provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and are subject to change Stan joined DraftKings in December of 2020 when we got Madden streams and boisterous bat flips from the KBO I was brought on board to bring some West Coast flavor the beat that I hear is not one of crashing waves it is the beat of the ball bouncing off the hardwood with highs provided by the squeaks of the sneakers Twins 3B Royce Lewis (hamstring) was activated from the 10-day injured list and will be available for Tuesday’s series vs Garion Thorne dives into tonight’s NBA Playoffs slate to find undervalued players to use in your DraftKings lineups Sean Barnard dives into his top player prop bets on DraftKings Sportsbook ahead of the Boston Celtics vs CALL 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (AZ/CO/DC/IA/IL/IN/KS/KY/LA/MD/ME/MI/NC/NJ/NH/OH/OR/PA/TN/VA/VT/WV/WY) (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA) Call 877-8-HOPENY / text HOPENY (467369) (NY).Please Gamble Responsibly Void where prohibited.21+ (18+ DC/KY/NH/WY) Physically present in AZ/CO/DC/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/KY/LA(select parishes)/MA/MD/ME/MI/NC/NH/NJ/NY/OH/OR/PA/TN/VA/VT/WV/WY only On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS) he has been the Hawks best defensive player and a core piece of their team He was arguably a defensive player of the year candidate in 2020-2021 and has been consistent for them on the glass and on defense Capela is heading into the last year of his contract and was in the middle of trade rumors for a portion of the offseason "Clint Capela has been a rock-solid starting center for the Atlanta Hawks the past four years although future financial restrictions and the emergence of Onyeka Okongwu could be spelling the end for the veteran center in the ATL Capela is on an expiring $22.3 million contract and averaged 11.5 points 10.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks and shot 57.1 percent overall last season his seventh straight year with a double-double average The Hawks are currently committing $51 million to the center position this season between Capela and are just $1.2 million below the luxury tax line Okongwu needs to become the starting center in Atlanta 8.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks while shooting 7-of-15 (46.7 percent) from three in his eight starts last season and is beginning a team-friendly $62 million contract that could look like one of the better deals in the NBA very soon An expensive extension for Jalen Johnson is likely going to be agreed upon and kick in next season De'Andre Hunter and Bogdan Bogdanović will earn $85.3 million in 2025-26 alone no longer makes sense for the Hawks unless he takes a significant pay cut Expect the 30-year-old to pursue a starting job elsewhere." It would be pretty surprising to see Capela back in Atlanta after this season He is aging and the Hawks seem like they want to be younger at the position They have Okongwu and there was a lot of buzz before the draft of them being interested in UConn center Donovan Clingan but the Hawks bringing Capela back would be surprising the page you were looking for could not be found © 2025 ABG-SI LLC - SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ABG-SI LLC 1.2 assists on 57.1%/0%/63.1% splits (73 games) this is Clint Capela's last season in Atlanta the Hawks already drafted his replacement back in the 2020 NBA Draft Onyeka Okongwu has not necessarily lived up to being the sixth overall pick but he is still a good player with legitimate upside He's been relegated to a backup role due to a combination of injuries and not taking the role away from Capela the Hawks gave him a $64 million dollar extension largely based on projecting him to be an above-average starting center They are not going to be able to find out whether that contract is worth it with Capela as a starter It's fair to wonder whether the Hawks would be better served by inserting someone with more mobility it should be noted that he was dealing with several injuries throughout the season and ofte played hurt. it can't be ignored that he forces the Hawks to play a certain style of offense They cannot play Okongwu and Capela together because both are going to be ignored by the defense as three-point shooters it is really a question of which one is more suited towards the scheme There is also the persistent question of his trade value Capela would be extremely helpful as a backup center who is currently a Mitchell Robinson injury from being in serious trouble at center his salary for 2024-25 is $22.2 million dollars (second-highest on the Hawks) That's simply too much of a commitment for most teams to make towards a backup center with his skillset Trading Capela also removes a theoretically helpful part of the offense from Atlanta. Granted, possessions with Capela as the roll man was not a highly-successful part of the offense last year. Below is a description of possessions with Capela as the roll man in the pick-and-roll across his four seasons in Atlanta he was a far less effective roll man last year than he has been at any other part of his career in Atlanta Part of that could be related to both his injuries and Trae's injuries but it's worth considering that the offense did not necessarily find success in this way He can still operate as a back-to-the-basket center but spamming post-ups seems like a ineffective way for Atlanta to play given the talent of Young and Jalen Johnson All of this is a long way of saying that the Hawks should seriously consider making Capela a backup in 2024-25 They need to take a serious look at what they have in Okongwu and Capela's deal is expiring at the end of the year his value to the team has not been as high as it has been in previous years Keeping him as a backup also preserves his health for a move at the trade deadline to a contender/playoff team dealing with injuries to their center position Best-Case Scenario: Whether as a starter or backup Capela is a good defensive anchor and continues being a force on the boards His defensive rebounding is a bit better and he's healthy enough to move around in Quin Snyder's scheme Worst-Case Scenario: He begans to slip as an offensive rebounder while his defensive rebounding takes an even more drastic spiral The finishing numbers do not improve and he is relegated to a backup role the Hawks have several other established players to decide on The Atlanta Hawks are relishing the opportunities that lie ahead of them this season, and that is wise with so much left unsettled as the offseason approaches. In addition to Trae Young’s future His points and boards are both lows since at least the 2016-17 season $46 million contract and is expected to seek a new team “After being benched in favor of Onyeka Okongwu and dangled in trade talks before the deadline, the early expectation is Hawks center Clint Capela will sign elsewhere in unrestricted free agency this summer league sources told HoopsHype,” HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto wrote on March 28 Capela, who posted 9.3 PPG and 9.0 RPG as a starter earlier in the season, has appeared in 55 games. He could miss the rest of the regular season with the Hawks having nine games left on the slate so Capela still has a chance to suit up again and make an impact at a critical time the Hawks have already shown they are going with Okongwu as the starter They have young forward Mouhamed Gueye, who is a 4 but could moonlight at the 5 if he bulks up during the offseason. The Hawks could also use one of two projected selections in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft to select a big man For Capela, the future is far from certain. Despite trade interest in him before the deadline, Capela is an aging player with a fairly extensive injury history that includes knee issues He is also expected to take a pay cut on his next deal and he helped them reach the Eastern Conference Finals while leading the league in rebounds He also led the league in offensive boards in 2023-24 but his 56.4% true shooting mark is the third-worst of his career All of these things will likely factor into Capela’s next deal “Capela should find suitors elsewhere, although he'll undoubtedly be taking a pay cut from his $22.3 million salary this season,” Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus wrote on March 25 “He should sign a new deal in the $5-14 million-per-year range.” The Hawks can sign a backup bigman on a deal that totals what Capela could still command and there is no guarantee he would even want to return given how things have unfolded the writing appears to have been on the wall long ago The closer the season comes to ending, however, the closer the Hawks and Capela get to potentially parting ways as the team continues its transition to a younger, more dynamic group featuring young forwards Jalen Johnson and Zaccharie Risacher “After being benched in favor of Onyeka Okongwu and dangled in trade talks before the deadline, the early expectation is Hawks center Clint Capela will sign elsewhere in unrestricted free agency this summer Capela, who posted 9.3 PPG and 9.0 RPG as a starter earlier in the season, has appeared in 55 games. He could miss the rest of the regular season They have young forward Mouhamed Gueye, who is a 4 but could moonlight at the 5 if he bulks up during the offseason. The Hawks could also use one of two projected selections in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft to select a big man For Capela, the future is far from certain. Despite trade interest in him before the deadline, Capela is an aging player with a fairly extensive injury history that includes knee issues All of these things will likely factor into Capela’s next deal “Capela should find suitors elsewhere, although he'll undoubtedly be taking a pay cut from his $22.3 million salary this season,” Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus wrote on March 25 The closer the season comes to ending, however, the closer the Hawks and Capela get to potentially parting ways as the team continues its transition to a younger, more dynamic group featuring young forwards Jalen Johnson and Zaccharie Risacher the Hawks provided an important injury update to their center's status "Following an MRI at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex on Mar center Clint Capela has been diagnosed with a ligament injury in the fourth metacarpal of his left hand Capela will undergo rehabilitation and will be re-evaluated in approximately three to four weeks His status will be updated as appropriate." If Capela is re-evaluated and is able to return to play three weeks from today two days before the final day of the regular season right around the start of the NBA playoffs This puts the Hawks in an interesting position when it comes to their roster After being injured in a game against the Orlando Magic Larry Nance Jr was given a six-week re-evaluation date which is coming up next week on March 26th Here is the update the Hawks gave on February 12th: left Monday night’s game with a right knee injury Further evaluation and imaging at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex revealed a non-displaced fracture of his right medial femoral condyle He will be re-evaluated in approximately six weeks and an update will be provided at that time." Will Nance be able to return to play or will he remain out expect to see Dominick Barlow play behind Onyeka Okongwu Barlow has played at least 16 minutes in the past four games and is coming off a 12-point six-rebound performance vs the Charlotte Hornets Steph Curry Injury Update: Golden State Updates His Playing Status for Tomorrow's Game vs Atlanta Why the Atlanta Hawks Will Be The Toughest Play-In Matchup For Either the Cavaliers or The Celtics Which Teams Should Atlanta Hawks Fans Be Rooting For Today (3/20)? great players will get theirs and impact the game one way or another That is an important caveat when discussing another Hawks starter As Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young has shown Capela has seen his production and playing time fall to ominously low levels this season all while the annual cycle of trade rumors surrounds him He remains an understatedly effective player Capela boasts the third-best on-off differential among the Hawks players this season His differential is 8.9 points better than his top backup who the Hawks are said to be ready to insert into the starting lineup in matchups like the Hawks have against the Los Angeles Lakers in which Capela matches up against the elite centers in the game there is a simple explanation for why that will continue if Capela remains the starter Taking Davis as an example, Capela is 12-6 in their head-to-head meetings But he did most of his winning versus Davis while the two were with their previous teams the Houston Rockets and New Orleans Pelicans Capela and the Hawks are 2-2 against Davis’ Lakers but the former has never outscored his counterpart in any of their matchups but has held his own in all other facets of the game with nothing to offer outside of lobs and dunks That is all the Hawks really ask him to do on that end He makes consistent and valuable contributions on the glass But so long as Capela is the Hawks’ starting center they will always be playing against the elite bigs on just one side of the floor which means opponents expand half the energy they should Okongwu’s impact on defense ranks even worse than Capela’s offense and the duo’s history of injuries is also ominous the Hawks need both big men healthy to replicate what the game’s elite centers do It can also be informative on how the Hawks can ascend to that level as a team They must find an elite center that complements Young and Jalen Johnson This will be Game 3 on the Hawks’ six-game road trip But the fatigue of being on the road could start to set in soon and the lack of depth due to those injuries becomes an even bigger issue That may have been the case against the Nikola Jokic and Denver Nuggets The Hawks trailed the Nuggets 74-71 at halftime It was an improvement over their first meeting (141-111) The Hawks have played an equal number of home and road games and are coming off a four-game road trip the question the Hawks will have to answer is whether or not that was the result of facing the Nuggets or a sign that the road trip is getting to them The Hawks control the Lakers’ 2025 first-round draft pick A win would help move the pick closer toward the top of the draft It would also move the pick the Hawks owe to the San Antonio Spurs back The Hawks also control the Sacramento Kings’ 2025 first-round pick The Kings have won back-to-back games to snap their six-game losing streak Capela boasts the third-best on-off differential among the Hawks players this season Taking Davis as an example, Capela is 12-6 in their head-to-head meetings Okongwu’s impact on defense ranks even worse than Capela’s offense This will be Game 3 on the Hawks’ six-game road trip The Hawks control the Lakers’ 2025 first-round draft pick Paul George‘s first season in Philadelphia certainly has not gone the way either party envisioned when the nine-time All-Star signed a four-year maximum-salary contract with the Sixers last summer The 34-year-old forward has missed 19 of the team’s 54 games to this point due to knee and he hasn’t been effective lately when active recording just two points on 1-of-7 shooting in 37 minutes during Wednesday’s loss to Brooklyn the 76ers are now tied with the Nets for the sixth-worst record in the NBA Appearing on NBA Today on Thursday (Twitter video link), ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that George, who has been playing through tendon damage in his left pinky finger has been receiving injections just to suit up over the past week “He’s been doing what he can to be on the court and to try to be available,” Charania said “I’m told that it’s to the point where he gotten injections to play and compete over the last four or five games That’s something that players do come playoff time “ … We can tell that he’s not 100 percent there’s something that’s been amiss with him there’s going to be a point in time here where … they’re going to have to have some hard conversations about availability and potentially maybe even shutting a guy or two down in the second half of the season.” Here are a few more injury notes from around the NBA: As a Sixers fan can we please just shutdown Embiid & George; this gambit was always a 2year plan so just chalk this one up to a lost season and try to get everyone healthy (a complete fantasy I know) Players made of glass don’t suddenly become ironmen late in their career… As a Thunder fan…..please go ahead with operation shutdown but the greatest move in indiana pacers history was trading paul george yes but okc was the one that maximize the paul george trade…not pacers PG turned into sabonas who turned into haliburton who is now franchise star & led them to ECF last yr Also the point is nobody could have imagined giving him up would be such a positive thing I think my least favorite thing in the entire NBA is this growing trend of teams overpaying for always-injured players and then talking about how stunned they are when the players are always injured For years now Podcast P has just one move during games …… on top of the 3 point line Can’t believe front office guys still for this act George suffered a bone bruise early in the season Even though he only missed a few games those don’t heal quickly My guess is it’s been affecting him all season Based on past behavior with Philly they are letting him play through it even though just like Embiid he isn’t remotely at full health and shouldn’t be playing Another example of how that organization is terribly run if you ask me It starts with terrible ownership in my opinion Why didn’t 76ers trade for Butler last week The Overrated players have a huge trade value Because the 76ers have already been burnt by that dumpster fire. paul george got a max contract now he can coast and take it easy focus more on his podcast and still get paid max money Many Atlanta Hawks players have come up in trade rumors in recent months The Hawks have already undergone a significant facelift trading Dejounte Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans for a package of players and picks Hawks general manager Landry Fields has made some minor deals since then Fields has also said he is fine taking this group (before those minor tweaks) into the year That makes sense given the difference Murray’s absence figures to have But it also comes with an inherent risk that will only increase as the year progresses “Clint Capela has been a rock-solid starting center for the Atlanta Hawks the past four years, although future financial restrictions and the emergence of Onyeka Okongwu could be spelling the end for the veteran center in the ATL,” Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz wrote in an article considering potential “flight risks” from September 2 .“The Hawks are currently committing $51 million to the center position this season between Capela and are just $1.2 million below the luxury tax line.” The Hawks signed Okongwu $61.9 million contract extension in October 2023 Okongwu needs to become the starting center in Atlanta,” Swartz wrote “Re-signing Capela no longer makes sense for the Hawks unless he takes a significant pay cut.” Swartz also points to the $85-plus million the Hawks will owe to Young, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and De’Andre Hunter in 2025-26 as well as Jalen Johnson’s looming contract situation “Expect the 30-year-old to pursue a starting job elsewhere,” Swartz wrote Legendary baseball manager Branch Rickey once said it is better to trade a player one year too early rather than one year too late That adage could certainly apply to the Hawks and Capela who is coming off a bounce-back campaign in terms of durability Capela averaged a points-rebounds double-double for the seventh straight season. But his 59% true shooting mark was the third-worst mark of his career Capela was linked to the Dallas Mavericks and, more recently, the Pelicans in trade rumors. But the Hawks did not want to part with the 2020-21 rebound champion in the Murray trade The Hawks are already trying to thread the needle retooling around Young They do not have a clear-cut No. 2 star, though Johnson is it if he stays healthy. The Hawks also landed the No. 1 pick of the draft in the most disparaged class in recent memory a step up from his 65 appearances the year before and the fourth-most appearances he has logged in a single season The 30-year-old center has also dealt with knee issues in recent seasons though they were not a big issue in 2023-24 Capela’s value as a leader could outweigh the return for him in a trade Okongwu (6-foot-8) is also undersized for the position full time while Zeller (6-foot-11) is not a starting-caliber center Capela (6-foot-10) remains the most appealing starting option on paper That does not mean Okongwu cannot make a big impact especially if the Hawks lean into their newfound small-ball potential with him and Murray trade return piece Dyson Daniels ","https://fansided.com/",{"alt":"6r","src":"6s","url":"6t"},{"type":"6q","value":"6u"},"link","Minute Media","https://www.minutemedia.com/",{"text":"6x","url":"6y"},{"type":"6w","value":"6z"},"All Rights Reserved The Hawks have already undergone a significant facelift “Clint Capela has been a rock-solid starting center for the Atlanta Hawks the past four years, although future financial restrictions and the emergence of Onyeka Okongwu could be spelling the end for the veteran center in the ATL,” Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz wrote in an article considering potential “flight risks” from September 2 The Hawks signed Okongwu Swartz also points to the $85-plus million the Hawks will owe to Young, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and De’Andre Hunter in 2025-26 as well as Jalen Johnson’s looming contract situation Legendary baseball manager Branch Rickey once said it is better to trade a player one year too early rather than one year too late Capela averaged a points-rebounds double-double for the seventh straight season. But his 59% true shooting mark was the third-worst mark of his career Capela was linked to the Dallas Mavericks and, more recently, the Pelicans in trade rumors. But the Hawks did not want to part with the 2020-21 rebound champion in the Murray trade They do not have a clear-cut No. 2 star, though Johnson is it if he stays healthy. The Hawks also landed the No. 1 pick of the draft in the most disparaged class in recent memory The Atlanta Hawks might need to take a page out of Branch Rickey's book Hawks injury report for Thursday's game against the Magic:Trae Young (right Achilles tendinitis) is probable.Vit Krejci (lumbar fracture) is out.Larry Nance Jr. (right medial femoral condyle fracture) is out.Jalen Johnson and Kobe Bufkin remain out. https://t.co/lgPSL3qzaw It looks like the big man will be available to make his return to the lineup on Thursday He has been out of the lineup for several weeks but he is now off of the injury report and should be good to go against Orlando His return will mean less work for Onyeka Okongwu moving forward Hawks injury report for Tuesday in Charlotte:Trae Young (right Achilles tendinitis) is probable.Caris LeVert (right knee soreness) is out.Clint Capela (family reasons) is out.Johnson Capela will miss a fourth straight game due to personal reasons His absence doesn't play a huge role for fantasy managers following his move to the second unit