Hawks Veteran Expected To Leave In 2025 Free Agency

Capela is in the final year of a two-year, $46 million contract extension that he signed in 2021. In 2018, he signed a five-year, $90 million contract extension with the Houston Rockets. By the offseason, the Geneva native will have made $131 million since being drafted 25th overall in 2024.

Opposite Timelines

In his 11-year NBA career, Capela has averaged 12.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game.

A traditional rim-runner and shot-blocker, he averaged at least 11 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 1.0 block per game in seven consecutive seasons. He’s particularly gifted when crashing the offensive glass, his career offensive rebounding percentage (15.2) ranking seventh all-time. He ranks seventh among active players in career offensive rebounds with 2,432 (regular season only).

However, Capela’s now on the downslope of his career. This and his replacement having a more versatile skillset led to the Hawks starting Onyeka Okongwu over him. The sixth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, he hasn’t disappointed since being promoted to the first unit.

In those 32 games, Okongwu is averaging a double-double with 14.8 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. A two-way playmaker, he’s also averaged 2.8 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.0 block per game. Perhaps most impressively, he’s made 39.1 percent of his 3-point attempts.

If Okongwu wasn’t ready to take the reins, perhaps Capela would’ve been reinserted into the starting lineup. That’s not what happened though. Now, they must adjust to their new realities.

Clint Capela’s Options

Most players would likely prefer to be in the first unit. However, only about a tenth of them will ever be shoo-ins for a starting spot. At this point of his career, Capela isn’t in that category. As a result, while he might search out a team looking for a starter-level center, it probably won’t be a make-or-break factor.

With that in mind, there are 11 teams projected to have cap space this offseason: the Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Detroit Pistons, New Orleans Pelicans, Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz, Charlotte Hornets, and San Antonio Spurs. None of those teams necessarily need a starting-caliber center. Nonetheless, many of them would be wise to shore up their depth at the position.

Several other teams are projected to have their mid-level exception available. The sign-and-trade route is an option.