The best free agent left has been taken off the market as the Houston Rockets reached a five-year, $90 million extension with Clint Capela, according to ESPN.
It’s been a long wait this summer for Capela, who entered the offseason as a restricted free agent but didn’t sign any offer sheets with other teams.
After the market dried up and nearly all of the top free agents were taken off the board, Capela re-upped with the Rockets on a deal that will pay him less than the max, but afford him security over the maximum five years he could have signed for.
Capela also had the option of signed his $4.3 million qualifying offer, which would have allowed him to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, when the market is expected to be flush with stars.
An important member of the Rockets’ 65-win squad last season, Capela was a candidate for Most Improved Player after putting together a career year by averaging 13.9 points, 10.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks.
James Harden expressed happiness over his teammate’s new deal.
James Harden reacts to the Rockets getting a deal done to retain restricted free agent big man Clint Capela on a five-year, $90 million deal pic.twitter.com/uBKyiAWV7o
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) July 27, 2018
