Clint Capela has been a key piece in the Houston Rocket's return to dominance these past two seasons. Although Capela and the Rockets were bested by the Golden State Warriors after Chris Paul went down with an injury, the Western Conference's number one seed is looking to strike back hard next year. It would be hard for them to do that without Capela, who ended the 2017-18 season averaging 13.9 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game. He also shot a league-best 65.2 percent from the field.
According to ESPN, Capela has agreed to a five-year, $90 million extension with the Rockets. He was a restricted free agent. This past season, when the Rockets had Chris Paul, James Harden, and Capela in the lineup, the team was 42-3. Capela's new contract places the Rockets' payroll at $136 million, the fourth highest in the NBA after Oklahoma City, Golden State, and Toronto.
The Rockets are also looking to add Carmelo Anthony this Summer. Anthony is expected to sign a one-year deal at the $2.4 million veteran minimum. With Anthony in the line-up, the Rockets aim to dethrone Golden State. They will also have the competition of the Lakers, who recently signed LeBron James, to contend with in the Western Conference.