Washington Wizards: Would Clint Capela fit in DC?

With the NBA trade deadline officially heating up, one name that may be on the move is Clint Capela of the Houston Rockets. Could the Wizards be in the mix for the center?

With the February 6 trade deadline looming, things were looking a bit quiet with few big names on the move in the NBA. However, as always, we got a serious Woj bomb during halftime of the Super Bowl that changed everything.

Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Houston Rockets center Clint Capela is available and it sounds like the Rockets will try and move him ahead of the deadline. Obviously Woj stated in the tweet that Atlanta is in fact interested and he also tweeted out today that Boston may be in the mix as well.

There have been reports over the past few days that the Wizards could be buyers at the deadline, so could Capela be a potential get for the Wiz?

Everything at the moment is pure speculation, but a Capela trade to D.C. could be an interesting one. Capela is still just 25 years old and will be under contract for the next three seasons. He has a skill set that would fit in very well with the Wizards’ backcourt of John Wall and Bradley Beal.

A high flying center who can catch lobs, play good defense, and rebound is what the Wizards would get with Capela. When Wall’s back fully healthy, adding a good rim running center could be a recipe for success next season and beyond. Although I know many Wizards fans are big on Thomas Bryant, Capela would be a big upgrade.

Now obviously with any trade in the NBA, it is all about who you are sending out. Yesterday, NBC Sports Washington’s Quinton Mayo tweeted out a hypothetical package that the Wizards could send out. The deal in this hypothetical situation is the Wizards trading Davis Bertans, Thomas Bryant, and (maybe) Jordan McRae for Capela and a 1st round pick.

This trade would definitely be enticing one for the Wizards, especially when the prize is a top tier center who would be perfect next to John Wall. That pick would be a cherry on top as just another piece to put in the asset cupboard.

What the Washington Wizards Lose

As far as what the Wizards have to send out, obviously trading Bertans and Bryant would hurt, but if you unpack it, it may be worth it. Davis Bertans has established himself as one of the best shooters in the NBA, however, he is on an expiring deal and will be getting paid this offseason. Bertans is reported to be commanding $15-20 million and Capela is going to be getting an average of $18 million for the remainder of his contract. As good of a shooter as Bertans is and as good as he would be with Wall, Capela would be an upgrade in more areas.

As far as Thomas Bryant goes, he is a great kid and works his tail off, but is he the answer moving forward at center? At just 22 years old, Bryant is still developing and has shown a lot of promise. However, he still continues to struggle on the defensive end, protecting the rim and being an efficient rebounder. With the energy that he brings, he would be the perfect backup center for a contender right now, but if the Wizards could get Capela, that’d be a vast improvement.

Why Would the Wizards Do It?

With the Wizards looking to get back into the playoff picture next season, and maybe this season, they need to add a few pieces in order to get back to a high level. With their current cap situation being rather tough, a trade where they could bring in a guy like Clint Capela would be a great move.

With Bradley Beal reportedly unhappy with the current construct of the team, GM Tommy Sheppard may be feeling the heat to bring in some improvements. Clint Capela is a young center who would be able to contribute now and in the future, which may make things worth it.

Whether the Wizards do make this deal or not, with their current roster, monitoring a situation like Capela’s would be smart. With the trade deadline beginning to heat up and rumors beginning to fly, a potential Clint Capela to DC might be a move that could help all parties involved.

Welcome to trade deadline season!