Clint Capela, C, Houston Rockets
Jordan would be an excellent replacement for Lopez. However, I’m personally more fond of Clint Capela, a younger option on an exciting upward trajectory. The only obvious problem is that the Houston Rockets’ big man is a restricted free agent.
For those of you not in the know, that means the Rockets can match any offer the Lakers make to Capela. So even if they came at the Swiss center with a max offer sheet, Houston could say “nice try” and grab him right back. At the same time, they could decide it’s not worth the hassle — or maybe they’d rather use that money to pursue someone like James or George.
Either way, the possibility is there for Capela to take his talents elsewhere come July. It may not be very likely, but it’s the NBA — madness ensues every offseason.
So how does Capela fit? Well, he’s a terrific defender, so he’d immediately upgrade the rim protection department for Los Angeles. He’s currently fourth in the NBA in blocks per game with 1.8. On top of that, he’s sensational on the boards, as he’s currently seventh in the league in rebounds per game with 11.0.
He’s not a high-volume scorer, but is very efficient on the offensive end. Capela currently leads the NBA in field goal percentage (65.2), although that’s due in part to the fact that he sees so many quality looks while the defense is sucked in by James Harden and Chris Paul.
Still, with Capela in the middle, Lonzo Ball would have another reliable target to set up with his elite passing. He may not have the range of Lopez, but is unquestionably better on the defensive end.