:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60595155/usa_today_10817527.0.jpg)
Well, another piece of the offseason for the Houston Rockets just fell into place. Former TDS contributor Kelly Iko is reporting that the Rockets have finally come to a long-term agreement with restricted free agent center Clint Capela. He’s been signed to a five-year, $90 million deal.
Clint Capela and the Houston Rockets have reached an agreement.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIkoNBA) July 27, 2018
Houston has reached an agreement with Clint Capela on a 5-year, $90m extension, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 27, 2018
The Rockets gave Capela a qualifying offer at the start of the free agency with the expectation that he’d go out and find a big deal on the open market, which the Rockets would subsequently match. When no deal materialized, his team sought a five-year, $100 million deal, while the Rockets offered five-years, $85 million before meeting in the middle today.
Capela was one of the key pieces to the Rockets’ franchise best 65-17 record, and helped spearhead an even more impressive 42-3 regular season mark when he shared the court with Chris Paul and James Harden.
Houston’s core from last season now returns intact, and despite a few free agent losses in Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute, the Rockets’ main threesome are now all under contract long term.
With the Carmelo Anthony signing just a few days away now, the Rockets are likely done making any major moves this offseason, but GM Daryl Morey has been very vocal about the possibility of in-season additions.
But in the meantime, it’s a good day. The 24-year-old likely still has some more improving to do, and he’s going to do it in a Rockets’ uniform.