The Los Angeles Lakers may have just received a significant offseason boost in their quest to retool the roster around Luka Doncic. According to NBA insider Evan Sidery, veteran big man Clint Capela will not be returning to the Atlanta Hawks and is expected to hit free agency this summer.
“Clint Capela will be moving on from the Hawks in free agency.”
“Unlikely to be a starter at this point in his career, Capela is set to receive interest from contenders in need of priority backup bigs.”
While Capela may no longer be seen as a starting-caliber center in today’s NBA, he remains one of the league’s most effective backup bigs, especially for teams with championship aspirations.Capela, 30, averaged 8.9 points and 8.5 rebounds in just 22.4 minutes per game this past season, providing solid rim protection, interior rebounding, and an efficient pick-and-roll presence.
Though his athleticism is no longer what it once was during his prime Houston Rockets days, Capela remains a reliable interior anchor who thrives in a simplified role. For a team like the Lakers, that’s exactly the kind of veteran presence they need off the bench and at a likely discount.
The Lakers have lacked a dependable big man ever since trading away Anthony Davis in the blockbuster Luka Doncic deal that stunned the league. The frontcourt depth has since been a glaring weakness, especially during the team’s first-round playoff exit to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Minnesota’s big men of Naz Reid, Julius Randle, and Rudy Gobert exposed L.A.’s lack of size, with Jaxson Hayes struggling to provide meaningful resistance in the paint. Hayes, who is expected to leave in free agency, reportedly does not envision a future in Los Angeles, opening up a clear need for reinforcements at the five.
The Lakers have already been linked to several big men this offseason, including Nicolas Claxton, Brook Lopez, and Daniel Gafford. Claxton remains a top priority due to his age, defensive instincts, and the fact that he could pair well with Doncic in both pick-and-roll and fast-break scenarios.
