According to one report, the Rockets offered Clint Capela about $53 million over four years. According to another, it was about $60 million over four years.
According to a third report…
Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle:
Rockets offer to Clint Capela on July 1 was five years, $85 million, two individuals with knowledge of the offer said. With incentives, the deal could be worth $90 million. Rockets remain optimistic sides a deal will be reached. "Absolutely," one of the individuals said.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) July 11, 2018
That’s a lot of money, but Capela’s production might be worth even more to Houston. He complements James Harden and Chris Paul so well as a lob finisher, and Capela is an excellent rim protector and fit in the Rockets’ switching scheme.
But he’s a restricted free agent, and there is no obvious team to press Houston with an offer sheet. So, the Rockets have leverage.
Then again, so does Capela. He could accept his qualifying offer, become an unrestricted free agent next summer and unilaterally leave Houston.
These situations tend to result in lengthy standoffs – with plenty of leaks as both sides try to gain an upper hand. It’s not always clear which of these reports are accurate, but both sides want to present themselves as being reasonable and the other side as being too difficult. This is obviously the Rockets’ attempt.
