NBA trade grades: The 4-team blockbuster involving Clint Capela, Robert Covington
The NBA’s biggest dominoes to date have fallen in a four-team blockbuster involving Clint Capela and Robert Covington. Here’s how each team grades out.
The Minnesota Timberwolves held the key that unlocked the trade market and, under 40 hours before the NBA’s trade deadline, a four-team blockbuster unfolded before the eyes of those still fortunate to be awake.
But it took time to unpack all the moving parts of what ended up being a 12-player trade with a pair of first-round picks. Multiple reporters unpacked elements of the trade, involving the Wolves, Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks and Denver Nuggets. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Bobby Marks, The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Jon Krawczynski, the Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan Feigen, and probably more all broke pieces of the trade.
Clint Capela, Robert Covington and Malik Beasley are the biggest names moving in different directions. On the surface, the move looks solid for the Timberwolves, who gave up five players in the deal.
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In addition to dealing Covington, the Wolves sent out Shabazz Napier, Jordan Bell, Noah Vonleh and Keita Bates-Diop. Houston traded away Capela, Gerald Green, its 2020 first and Nene. Atlanta dealt Evan Turner and the 2020 Brooklyn first-round pick. Denver traded Beasley, Juancho Hernangomez and Jarred Vanderbilt.
The Rockets are thin at center with this deal and are reportedly exploring the trade market for one, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. Their lone centers are Tyson Chandler and Bell, barring another move, which will require small-ball minutes.
Likewise, Minnesota is thin at point guard, perhaps the most important position in the modern-day NBA. Aside from Andrew Wiggins and Jarrett Culver, rookie Jordan McLaughlin is the lone true point guard on the roster, having played 17.5 minutes per game in 15 of the team’s 49 games.
Denver’s bench has gained depth but Wojnarowski reported that the Nuggets will remain active ahead of Thursday’s 3 p.m. ET deadline.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at each team’s part in the trade, grading their return and looking at what’s next.