According to a team announcement, Atlanta Hawks center Clint Capela “has been diagnosed with a ligament injury in the fourth metacarpal of his left hand.” The 30-year-old “will undergo rehabilitation and will be re-evaluated in approximately three-to-four weeks.” With Atlanta’s regular season finale scheduled for April 13, he may have played his last game for the Hawks.
As of today, the Hawks are seventh-place in the East standings and looking at a Play-In Tournament berth. This year, the Play-In Tournament will take place from April 15-18.
Hawks’ Clint Capela Suffers Potential Season-Ending Injury
If this is the end of Capela’s tenure with the Hawks, it was a memorable one.
After becoming a prominent figure with the Houston Rockets during their James Harden Era, Capela was traded to the Hawks in a four-team deal. At that point in his career, the Swiss center was averaging 12.2 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. Even with the Rockets being home to many great bigs, he was top-10 in franchise history in rebounds (3,243) and top-five in blocks (491). He remains the team’s all-time leader in field goal percentage (.634).
Suffice it to say, Atlanta likely believed they were getting a cornerstone-caliber player. If so, they were correct. Capela’s started 339 of the 356 games he’s played with the Hawks, playoffs included. In fact, he was only replaced as the Hawks’ starting center on Jan. 20.
Slow & Steady
To be frank, Capela’s physical decline has been steady.
It’s not like he was running around the court doing backflips in his prime. However, he had more agility and energy, as evidenced by him contesting 4.3 two-point attempts per game in 2024-25 versus 7.0 two-point attempts per game in 2023-24. In 2020-21, his first season in Atlanta, he contested 9.1 two-point attempts per game.
Because of his relative lack of activity, the defense suffered this season. Ultimately, they were forced to promote Onyeka Okongwu to the first unit. This succession plan has arguably been in the works since 2020, when the Hawks drafted him sixth overall. However, listed at 6-foot-9 and 245 pounds, he’s built like Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson.
It’s worth mentioning that Thompson started in 542 of 755 games in his 20s, playoffs included. In Cavs history, he’s top-three in career rebounds (5,662) and top-five in career blocks (469). Nevertheless, like Thompson, Okongwu doesn’t really have imposing size. What he does have is fresh legs, springs in his knees, nice timing and notable guard skills.
With NBA offenses spacing the court as wide as they can, his ability to fly around is pretty valuable.
Reunited?
Heading into the offseason, the Hawks will have the ability to re-sign Capela. He’s on the downslope of his career, but he can still be a force to be reckoned with around the rim. Furthermore, though he’s been involved in myriad trade rumors, Atlanta’s motivation to move him seems like it was primarily financial in nature.
If the two sides have mutual interest on a team-friendly new deal, perhaps he’d remain with the Hawks.
That being said, he could have several suitors in free agency. Despite the purported devaluation of centers, teams that can’t control the paint are often left vulnerable. Whether they need a starting center or a backup, Capela’s rebounding and shot-blocking ability will be attractive.
One potential destination for Capela is the Los Angeles Clippers. With Ivica Zubac manning the middle, they don’t have to be overly reliant on him. However, his physical tools and skillset could ease Zubac’s burden. His chemistry with Harden, their starting point guard, also has to be noted.
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