Lakers Predicted To Sign Clint Capela This Offseason

The Los Angeles Lakers will attempt to acquire a center this offseason after trading Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in the Luka Doncic trade and one NBA insider thinks the purple and gold will sign Clint Capela.

The Atlanta Hawks and Capela are expected to part ways this offseason when the big man becomes an unrestricted free agent. 

“Capela, 31, has probably aged out of his stay in Atlanta. Onyeka Okongwu and others will fill that spot, leaving the veteran rebounder and shot-blocker to find a new home. He should expect a decrease in pay, but he may be one of the top available bigs on the market,” Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report wrote. “He’s not much of a scorer, and his efficiency at the rim has dropped from 65.3 percent from the field in 2022-3 to 55.9 percent.

“Still, he might provide a team with double-double production as a 24-minute starter, sharing minutes on a playoff-capable team. Prediction: Capela may be a stopgap for the Los Angeles Lakers via the TMLE (Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception).”

Capela played in 55 games for the Hawks this season. He averaged 8.9 points and 8.5 rebounds while shooting 55.9% from the field. 

The Lakers need a center who can finish at the rim and Capela fits that bill. He would likely flourish playing with Doncic and LeBron James, two of the greatest passers in NBA history. 

Capela has played for the Houston Rockets and Hawks. He has career averages of 12.0 points and 10.5 rebounds in 664 NBA games. 

The Lakers lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of this year’s playoffs in five games. Their lack of size hurt them against Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle and Naz Reid. 

The Buss family is entering an agreement to sell majority ownership of the Lakers to Mark Walter for $10 billion. Walter now owns the Lakers and Los Angeles Dodgers.