Capela eyes bigger goals after breakout season
Rockets GM believes center has potential to become All-Star
If anyone would know the math it would be Daryl Morey. But it did not take an analytics whiz to know that on an NBA roster, one is a lonely number.
For years, the Rockets general manager had cited the history of teams limited to one All-NBA-caliber player. They win, but rarely claim championships. But his answer when asked about the Rockets’ need for a second star might indicate more his plans for Clint Capela than anything he could say specifically about him.
“Our goal is a championship,” Morey said. “Generally, that has taken multiple superstars.
“I would say we do have some guys — I think Capela, for example. I’m not trying to say he is going to for sure be an All-Star. That is too much pressure to put on him at 22 (years old). But he’s got a chance. You look at his progression and where he is, and he’s got a chance to for sure be near All-Star, if not better.”
That Morey pivoted to discussing Capela’s potential indicates a great deal about how far Capela has come, and likely their discussion in Friday’s exit meetings.
A year ago, when Dwight Howard’s time as the presumed second star in Houston was ending, Capela was a project. The Rockets were hopeful, but did not list him, as Morey did Friday, as a reason to expect the Rockets to take the next step.
“Clint Capela took a big leap forward to be a starting center on a 55-win team, and then later in the year, took another leap forward in his activity and his ability to protect the rim and improve our defense,” Morey said. “His growth is going to be a big area.”
He already has improved markedly, posting the NBA’s third-best field-goal percentage (64.3). He was the fifth player in league history to average 12 points and eight rebounds in 24 or fewer minutes.
In the season’s final 31 games, Capela made 59.4 percent of his free throws, virtually ending the intentional fouls. He averaged 13 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocked shots in the series against the San Antonio Spurs.
Capela, however, had plans to continue to get stronger, as he has since he was made the 25th pick of the 2014 draft, allowing him to play longer and to play better against the physical centers that Nene often defended.
“Now, I know that I can handle the role of a starting center,” Capela said. “Now, my goal is to be more consistent and to be able to play more minutes and, like I did after this past summer get better, get stronger. Keep working and get better.
“Getting stronger. That’s always been my role every summer.”
As with Morey’s reference to the team’s potential, it was telling that when Capela was asked how a team largely built with veterans improves, he said that can come from its youngest starter.
“It depends on the impact that I am going to have next year, the next years,” he said. “I know one of my keys is to get stronger so as I work, as I get stronger, will define (what) the growth of the team will be.”