James Harden has a history of elevating the production of his big men; a recent example of this is Ivica Zubac. Granted, the Croatian Star took a major leap on defense, which led to him being selected on the NBA’s All-Defensive team, but Zubac’s offense rose to an unpredictable level.
Zubac developed a quick burst of chemistry with Harden, and right away, he was catching on-time, on-target passes in the paint. His life was ultimately made easier, and sometimes, he would have to do little work but jump in the air and slam the ball down off an alley-oop.
However, one of the first big men to experience what life is like with Harden as the floor general was Clint Capela. He genuinely looked like an All-Star in his peak with the Houston Rockets, and in 2018-29, he posted 16.6 points and 12.7 rebounds, shooting 64.8% from the floor.
The two eventually split up, which was an emotional sight for worldwide fans of the Rockets, but both are still beloved legends in the city where they began their prime.
That said, this summer, the Clippers need a backup center and could look to reunite Capela with Harden using the mid-level exception.
The LA Clippers' front office should attempt to sign Clint Capela, one of the few notable previous teammates of James Harden
Despite Clint Capela’s declining body and the fact that he is far from who he was at his peak with the Houston Rockets and Atlanta Hawks, he would still be a solid addition to the LA Clippers’ bench. He has a long history with James Harden, which would only make things click easier and bring back old memories of how they frustrated opponents on the Rockets.
This season, his likely last with the Hawks, Capela played 55 games, started for 41, and averaged 8.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.1 assists, shooting 55.9% from the field. Additionally, Capela is still an above-average rim-protector, as he posted 1.0 blocks per game in just 21.4 minutes using his gigantic six-foot-ten, 240 pound build.
These numbers and the recent production he has shown should interest the Clippers, as this is what they need behind Zubac but did not receive from Drew Eubanks. With Eubanks as one of the players most likely to not return next season, the former beneficiary of Harden is who the front office should sign.