The Los Angeles Lakers may have some options as far as how to plug their massive hole at the center position. They have been linked to a few different centers via the trade market, but there is always a chance they could land a serviceable big man in free agency.
They’re expected to have only the taxpayer mid-level exception of roughly $5.7 million to offer to any free agent of consequence. But some believe that a player such as Brook Lopez of the Milwaukee Bucks or the Atlanta Hawks’ Clint Capela could agree to come to the Lakers for that amount of money.
In a recent piece where he predicted where a number of free agents will land this summer, Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report predicted that Capela will sign with the Purple and Gold.
Via Bleacher Report:
“Capela, 31, has probably aged out of his stay in Atlanta. Onyeka Okongwu and others will fill that spot, leaving the veteran rebounder and shot-blocker to find a new home. He should expect a decrease in pay, but he may be one of the top available bigs on the market.
“He’s not much of a scorer, and his efficiency at the rim has dropped from 65.3 percent from the field in 2022-3 to 55.9 percent. Still, he might provide a team with double-double production as a 24-minute starter, sharing minutes on a playoff-capable team.”
Capela may not be quite the same player he was several years ago when he was on the Houston Rockets. But he still seems to be a viable rebounder and shot-blocker, and he could still be enough of a lob threat to whet Luka Doncic’s appetite.
He averaged 8.9 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 21.4 minutes a game this season for the Hawks. At 6-feet-10 and 256 pounds, he could have enough size and game to at least be an adequate stopgap solution for Los Angeles.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers predicted to land Hawks center in free agency
Reporting by Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire / LeBron Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
