Report: Rockets optimistic they'll keep Capela, initially offered $85M deal
If Clint Capela does, in fact, want his next contract to hover around the $100-million mark over four years, it appears the Houston Rockets' initial offer was close, albeit with an extra year.
When free agency got underway July 1, the Rockets offered the restricted-free-agent center a five-year, $85-million deal with incentives that could've pushed it to $90 million, sources told the Houston Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen.
While the two parties have yet to come to terms, and with no other teams having signed Capela to an offer sheet, Houston is reportedly optimistic it can lock down the 24-year-old.
The Rockets inked a four-year, $160-million deal with nine-time All-Star Chris Paul, retained Gerald Green, and brought on former Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams. Key contributors and top-notch defenders Trevor Ariza (Phoenix Suns) and Luc Mbah a Moute (Los Angeles Clippers) walked, though, so to lose an elite rim-protector like Capela would only further cripple Houston's sixth-ranked defense.
The Swiss big man led the Association in effective field-goal percentage (65.2 percent), while ranking second in blocks per game (1.9) and eighth in rebounds (10.8) for the 65-win Rockets.
There's always a chance he'll take his $4.7-million qualifying offer, which would allow him to test the market unrestricted next summer.