NBA rumors: Brook Lopez, Clint Capela lead vast trade market for centers
06/21/2024 01:31 PM
Rumors are running rampant now that the NBA Finals are over as teams around the league prepare for a busy offseason. We should expect to see numerous moves and the buzz around town is that there is a serious trade market for centers right now.
From the sounds of it, Brook Lopez of the Milwaukee Bucks and Clint Capela of the Atlanta Hawks, are leading the way in the NBA rumor mill, according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports. Other names to watch for are Mitchell Robinson of the New York Knicks, Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz, and Isaiah Stewart of the Detroit Pistons.
“Hartenstein, at this moment, is now generally expected to return to New York, as the Knicks have contacted opposing teams about moving Mitchell Robinson, sources said. There appears to be a wide range of starting-caliber big men available for trade. League personnel told Yahoo Sports the Bucks are open to reshaping their roster, and they are gauging the trade value for Brook Lopez. Houston, sources said, cautioned Lopez that re-signing with Milwaukee could very well lead to him eventually being traded when the Rockets pursued Lopez in free agency a year ago.
“Atlanta, sources said, continues to pursue deals for veteran center Clint Capela, who's entering the final year of a contract that still owes the 30-year-old rim protector $22 million. Rival teams believe Utah is willing to engage in trade talks that would part ways with Jazz second-year center Walker Kessler. And the Detroit Pistons are evaluating the market for Isaiah Stewart, according to league sources.”
If these trade rumors are true then the NBA is going to look vastly different next season. It’ll be interesting to see how it all plays out. But every team in the league must make big moves if they hope to eventually catch up to the Boston Celtics.
Which centers should we expect to be traded this NBA offseason?
There are a few teams that are likely to be busy this offseason as they aim to reshape their rosters for the 2024-25 NBA season. Brook Lopez certainly is a name to keep an eye on as the Bucks may want to find a third star to compliment Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. A possible smart move would be to combine Lopez with Khris Middleton in a trade package. But only time will tell what Milwaukee plans to do.
Another center to keep an eye on is Clint Capela. After the Hawks won the No. 1 pick overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, the front office suddenly finds itself with multiple options on the table. With the Trae Young and Dejounte Murray trade rumors still alive, Capela could be another player the franchise decides to move. Especially if Atlanta decides to enter a full rebuild.
Lastly, Mitchell Robinson could garner plenty of interest in the trade market this offseason. The Knicks have been rumored to be shopping Robinson since the middle of this previous season. Additionally, trading him along with draft capital could reel in another star to complement Jalen Brunson. New York isn’t too far away from finally becoming a championship contender. But the front office must make the right decisions this offseason.
The post NBA rumors: Brook Lopez, Clint Capela lead vast trade market for centers appeared first on ClutchPoints.
