Houston Rockets: Best candidates for 2018-19 NBA awards

Defensive Player of the Year: Clint Capela

Clint Capela’s rise from garbage-time regular to invaluable cog on a championship contender has been one of the most unlikeliest of triumphs in recent memory.

Playing alongside two elite point guards, Capela fits perfectly into Houston’s offensive schemes, but it’s on the other end where he really makes his mark. A towering presence near the rim, Capela has developed into one of the best rim protectors in the game, averaging 1.9 blocks a night while altering plenty more.

Where his value truly lies, though, is in his ability to guard out on the perimeter, allowing the Rockets to deploy a switch-heavy defensive strategy without really having to go small at center.

Following each of his three previous seasons, Capela has come back a better player. Now fully integrated on the court and with a long-term deal in his back pocket, it wouldn’t be all that surprising to see the near seven-footer take another step on defense, which could put him in the running for DPOY.