If Boston Celtics get Kemba Walker, Clint Capela is the the Next Step

With the latest Adrian Wojnarowski report, it seems the Boston Celtics have emerged as the favorite to land free agent Kemba Walker. If the All-NBA point guard does come to Boston, they will need to then turn their attention to a big man. That is where Clint Capela comes in.

Right now the Houston Rockets are attempting to shed as much salary as possible. Reportedly the reason to bring in Jimmy Butler as a free agent. This means that the contracts of Clint Capela, Eric Gordon and PJ Tucker are all on the table, (ironically) for a cheap price. With Capela only making $15 million next year, he could be something, with some salary adjustment, that could fit on the Boston Celtics.

Per Woj, “barring an unforeseen change of events,  Kemba Walker is going to leave Charlotte and head to Boston”.

With Walker on his way to Boston, the Celtics will be looking for a quality big man to replace Al Horford. While the Rockets are trying to shed Capela’s contract, $15 million is relatively cheap for a center of his caliber. He may not be the ideal fit in coach Brad Steven’s system, but if Stevens and his staff could get Aron Baynes to be a somewhat respectable three-point shooter, there is hope for Capela to be able to extend his range and work in the offense.

Capela to Boston has been among the NBA rumors since the Rockets announced they were trying to shed contract space. While multiple members of Celtics twitter have confirmed there is a deal done for Capela, the team, nor any big-name reporters have reported it is a finalized deal.

The rumors started with 98.5’s James Stewart tweeting out a cryptic tweet that leaves no information as to who this deal refers to, but said “pretty much hearing it’s done”.

There have been many other tweets in response to this saying that it was referring to the Horford deal, but nothing has been made official.

As for what the Boston Celtics would have to give up, that is another discussion. Of all the reports, none of them have specified exactly what Boston is giving up. In fact, no one has even tried to guess. While the trade process and the salary cap in the NBA is very complicated here is a guess of what Boston could be giving up.

If it is in fact a three team deal with Philadelphia and Houston, allowing the Rockets to get Jimmy Butler, Al Horford could be signed and traded to the 76ers, with salary dumps such as Guerschon Yabusele and possibly even Robert Williams. Although because of the new sign-and-trade rules it is not confirmed that this trade would work for the Celtics or the 76ers.

If this is a deal for Capela straight up, it would have to get made official after Kemba Walker signs with the Celtics to take advantage of the soft cape. Boston would likely give up Yabusele, Williams and the draft rights to either Romeo Langford or Grant Williams, with Williams being the most likely to get moved.

If the deal does officially get done, the Boston Celtics would have one of the stronger starting fives in the league. Just as last year, the season will rely on the development of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum as well as the recovery of Gordon Hayward.