The 76ers spent the offseason trying to shore up the backup center spot, but that box never really got checked. So as things stand, the job is there for the taking among a group of young bigs who have talent but not much track record.
That’s why Clint Capela looms as a name worth watching if Philadelphia decides it needs a steadier answer before the trade deadline.
Capela is heading into his 13th season and looks like the kind of player who could be moved. He’s on a modest deal that runs through 2028, and in Houston he has slipped behind both Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams in the rotation. That leaves the Rockets in a position where they may be willing to move on, and the 76ers could be ready to pounce.
For Philadelphia, the appeal is obvious. Adem Bona, Dominick Barlow, Jabari Walker, and Ariel Hukporti are all in the mix for minutes behind Joel Embiid, but none of them comes with much experience. Capela would bring something different: a veteran presence with a real defensive résumé.
He wasn’t at his most productive last season, but that was tied to the limited role available to him in Houston. And unless Adams runs into health problems, that role probably won’t grow much this year either.
Even now, Capela can still help where it matters most. At his best, he was one of the league’s better rim deterrents, and he can still make life harder for opponents on the defensive end.
He’s also a strong rebounder, which matters for a 76ers team that wanted to improve in that area this offseason. On top of that, his shot-blocking would give Philadelphia’s bench something it doesn’t currently have: a real defensive anchor.
The price would likely be manageable, too. A second-round pick at most would probably be enough to get it done, and Houston may be eager to move him anyway.
So while Philadelphia would prefer not to need another move, Capela stands out as a low-cost option if the center depth behind Embiid still looks shaky.
In Other News...
Sixers Bench Overhaul Leaves Nick Nurse With One Big Playoff Question
The Sixers have spent the offseason reshaping the back end of the roster, bringing in Dean Wade, Anfernee Simons, Ariel Hukporti, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and rookie Labaron Philon Jr. for a bench group that looks far different from the one Nick Nurse had to sort through a year ago. For a team built around Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, the goal is to make the second unit less of a patchwork and more of a real support system, with Simons and Wade viewed as the most obvious early pieces.
Nurses challenge now is not simply finding talent, but fitting it into a rotation that can survive the long regular season and still make sense when the games tighten up. Simons is back from a wrist injury and eager to help stabilize things, while Philon flashed enough in summer league to at least put himself in the conversation for minutes. The real question is how quickly Nurse can settle on the right combinations, because the Sixers bench makeover only matters if it leads to a group he trusts when the postseason pressure arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Ex-76ers Vet Buddy Hield Faces Another Uncertain NBA Future
Buddy Hields last season already hinted at how quickly an NBA rsum can lose its shine, with his minutes trimmed and his production sliding in a way that left him searching for stability. Now with the Hawks, the former 76ers guard enters another stretch where the big question is not just how he fits, but whether he fits in Atlanta at all.
Hield remains under contract through the 2027-28 season with a player option, which gives the Hawks some flexibility but also keeps the situation murky for a veteran whose value has fluctuated. Atlanta could explore a trade or even a buyout, and for a player who has seen his role shrink, the coming weeks may determine whether he gets a real chance to reset or is moved along again. [Read more 🡒]
76ers Face A Crunch-Time Dilemma Nick Nurse Must Solve
The 76ers are heading toward next season with a problem most teams would welcome: too many late-game options. Projected to have LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe all in the mix, Nick Nurse could be looking at a lineup loaded with players who want the ball when possessions tighten and every trip matters.
That kind of depth brings obvious scoring punch, but it also raises a difficult question about hierarchy when the game is on the line. Nurse will have to decide whether Philadelphia leans on one established closer or rotates the responsibility based on matchups, rhythm and who has it going that night, a choice that could shape how this group handles the biggest moments all season. [Read more 🡒]