The New York Knicks have reason to be excited about the upcoming NBA season, as they’re looking like legitimate championship contenders for the first time since the 1990s.
However, they still have a bit of work to do when it comes to finalizing their roster.
They lost center Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency and could use a replacement, especially given how important hitting the boards is to their style of play.
Ian Begley of SportsNet New York said the Knicks have checked in on Clint Capela of the Atlanta Hawks, per New York Basketball.
“I don’t know how far talks went,” Begley said. “I don’t know if they’re active at this very moment. But they did check in on Capela”
“Clint Capela Atlanta was one big that the Knicks checked in on. I don’t know how far talks went. I don’t know if they’re active at this very moment. But they did check in on Capela”
— More from Ian Begley including other centers: https://t.co/R3HpGHwJq4 pic.twitter.com/Ni0PVvZ72p
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) July 18, 2024
As of now, the Knicks have just one true center on their roster, Mitchell Robinson, who has always been a reliable shot-blocker and a beast on the boards but has also been injury-prone.
In his six NBA seasons, he has appeared in at least 70 games just once, and this past season appeared in just 31 games because of an ankle injury.
Capela would be a strong addition to New York, as he is an outstanding rebounder who can also block shots. Also a lob threat at age 30, he has valuable experience.
He has career averages of 12.3 points, 10.7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game, and he has been to the playoffs eight times in his 10 NBA seasons.
Capela has one year left on his contract at just over $22 million, so the question is what would the Knicks have to give up to get him and would they be able to re-sign him to another contract in order to keep him past the 2024-25 season?
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