Following an appearance in the second round of the postseason, the New York Knicks entered the offseason looking to maximize their winning window. New York finished as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference this past season and felt that they had a great chance to reach the NBA Finals. Unfortunately for them, injuries took their toll throughout the year, and by the time the team was eliminated, its rotation was stuck down heavily.
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New York acquired star forward Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets for a massive package of first-round picks, giving them more firepower to work with. But the Knicks don’t seem to be done just yet as they have been looking to acquire another center to pair alongside Mitchell Robinson.
New York lost center Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency to the Oklahoma City Thunder, leaving a big hole in the frontcourt.
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
According to Ian Begley of SNY, the Knicks have checked in on center Clint Capela of the Atlanta Hawks. Atlanta has been looking to potentially move the former first-round draft pick so a deal could end up being made.
“Clint Capela, Atlanta, was one big that the Knicks checked in on,” Begley reported. “I don’t know how far talks went. I don’t know if they’re active at this very moment. But they did check in on Capela.”
“Clint Capela Atlanta was one big that the Knicks checked in on. I don’t know how far talks went. I don’t know if they’re active at this very moment. But they did check in on Capela”
— More from Ian Begley including other centers: https://t.co/R3HpGHwJq4 pic.twitter.com/Ni0PVvZ72p
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) July 18, 2024
With the Hawks moving star guard Dejoute Murray this offseason, they seem to be in firesale mode entering next season. This has allowed teams to check in on most of the players on the roster and Capela could be a value piece for the Knicks. Last season, he averaged 11.5 and 10.6 rebounds per game over 73 games played. Capela is known for his strong rebounding and he could easily help the New York frontcourt get even stronger.
The price that the Hawks would want for Capela isn’t fully set but he remains an interesting option. If the Knicks are as serious as they seem to be about contending next season, a move for Capela would help solidify them in the East. They will enter next season as one of the favorites to win the conference but Capela could help them fully claim it outright. The New York front office isn’t sitting on their hands, which should put a smile on the face of the fanbase, who has suffered for years with this team.
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Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
