NBA Rumors: Atlanta Hawks Put 9-Year Veteran on Trade Block

The Atlanta Hawks have already unloaded John Collins this summer, and now they've put another long-time team member on the trade block. 

According to Tim MacMahon of ESPN, nine-year veteran center Clint Capela is there for the taking, as the Hawks look to further re-calibrate their roster for head coach Quin Snyder. 

Capela is on the block right now... right? The (Dallas) Mavericks would love to have that kind of starting center.

Indeed, the Mavericks are said to have been the first team to engage the Hawks about a Capela deal this offseason, as noted by Tim Cato in The Athletic. But "what Atlanta wanted in return was considered far too much."

The Mavs are known to be continuing to look to upgrade their center position, even after obtaining Richaun Holmes from the Sacramento Kings and drafting Dereck Lively II. Capela would be a huge upgrade defensively over their starting 'five', Dwight Powell.

#Clint #Capela #ClintCapela pic.twitter.com/TndcQ1NOT5

— Ball In Sports Net (@BallInSportsNet) July 25, 2023

Capela is one of the top rim-protectors in the game; he's averaged 1.5 blocks in his nine-year career, with 10.7 rebounds; he's also the last NBA player to amass 10 blocks in a game (2021).

He led the league in rebounding in 2021 with 14.3 boards per game, and has averaged over 11 per contest in the past two seasons.

Capela also stands 2nd in the league over the last ten years in an odd category: Most points without a 3-pointer. His 6,630 trails only Rudy Gobert's 8,531.

The 6'10" center still has two years and nearly $43M remaining on his contract.

Photo: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports