Report: Celtics intrigued by Clint Capela, but haven't had any trade talks with Rockets

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Despite earlier reports indicating that the Celtics engaged the Rockets on trade talks involving Clint Capela, Adam Himmelsbach reported Saturday that while the Celtics are intrigued by the center, they have not talked to Houston about a trade. 

Steve Kyler suggested the Celtics viewed Capela as a backup plan if the Anthony Davis trade fell through, and even though Davis is officially heading to the Lakers, it appears the Celtics aren't as interested as we originally thought. 

There have been reports that the Celtics have had trade talks with the Rockets about their talented young center, Clint Capela, who has four years left on his five-year, $90 million deal. A league source said Saturday that the Celtics are intrigued by Capela, but that the sides have not had any trade talks and that a deal for Capela is unlikely because Boston would not have interest in surrendering the players needed to complete the trade.

Capela is due $16.4 million next season, so for the Celtics to match salary in a deal, they'd have to include a combination of Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown, or have Al Horford opt-in and trade his $30.1 million salary for Capela and a player like Eric Gordon.

These are not the only possibilities for a trade, but it's difficult to construct a deal where Boston isn't giving up the same young pieces it seemingly withheld in Davis negotiations. 

Al Horford is reportedly undecided on whether to pick up his player option to return to the Celtics or enter free agency, so Capela discussions could pick up in the coming weeks or die completely once Boston gets a better idea of where their veteran center stands. 

Now that the Davis trade is out of the way, more dominos are free to fall as the NBA undergoes its most uncertain offseason in recent memory.  

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