Report: Hawks big Clint Capela remains on trade block

Report: Hawks big Clint Capela remains on trade block

The Atlanta Hawks have not completely punted on their longstanding core after trading Dejounte Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans nearly three weeks ago. After all, they still have star guard Trae Young, Clint Capela and DeAndre Hunter, among others.

Though a new report from ESPN NBA insider Zach Lowe suggests that Capela remains on the trade block after the Hawks have tried to trade their big man for over a year.

The majority of big names are gone in free agency, leaving a slew of trade targets–such as Bulls guard Zach LaVine or Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen–potentially available for the taking. As we learned with the Damian Lillard trade last fall, available targets and teams’ motives could trade an instant, depending on the circumstances surrounding them.

Capela is entering a contract year with the Hawks, making $22.3 million. That’s a hefty price tag for an undersized, non-spacing big, though Capela is an elite rebounder and excellent shot-blocker. Not to mention, expiring deals are inherently more valuable than ones with multiple years left on the deal–which could open up possible suitors for Capela, should the right deal matriculate.

Capela, who turned 30-years-old in May, averaged 11.5 points, 10.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game last year on 59.0 percent true shooting, his lowest mark since 2015-16, his second NBA season. Capela led the NBA in offensive rebounding percentage (18.7), was second in total rebounding percentage (22.4) and 10th in block percentage in 2023-24.

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Onyeka Okongwu will be entering the first year of a four-year, $62 million extension he signed ahead of last season. Ideally, you wouldn’t want to pay a backup big $14 million … and you also wouldn’t want to pay Capela over $22 million. Atlanta can kill two birds with one stone by flipping Capela before the new season unless they can find a suitor by the trade deadline.

The Hawks also have Larry Nance, Cody Zeller and Bruno Fernando all on the roster; while none are great backup center options behind Okongwu, they already have depth. Atlanta should try and recoup assets for Capela–even for 75 cents on the dollar–if it can.

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