While all the buzz around the Houston Rockets’ offseason has been about the Kevin Durant acquisition, a familiar name returned to the roster in a June 2025 trade. Veteran center Clint Capela is back with the Rockets after a five-season leave while he played for the Atlanta Hawks. 

Capela’s stats in the 2024/25 season left some to be desired, averaging 8.9 PPG, 8.5 RPG, and 55.9% from the field, per ESPN . The Rockets ultimately lost to the Utah Jazz in Tuesday’s preseason game 140-127, but Capela showed out in his first game back with Houston, putting up 16 points with an alley-oop dunk from JD Davison. He also grabbed four defensive and three offensive rebounds. 

The franchise certainly took his toolkit for granted the first time around. Back in the Harden years, Capela was the quiet guy doing the dirty work that kept Houston’s defense afloat. The Rockets ditched Capela in 2020 to pursue a new direction - developing a roster of promising young players expected to dominate in years to come. 

Now he’s exactly what the franchise needs, so perhaps Houston owes him an apology. While not an elite scorer, Capela was once a top-10 shot blocker mid-career and will bring added rim protection and inside defense work next to center Alperen Şengün, who’s still refining those skills. Funny how things come full circle.

Outside of boxscore stats, Capela brings stabilizing energy and meekness to a team full of young rising stars - plus Durant - to balance out ego. As a veteran, he’ll contribute his high basketball IQ and proven mentorship to a green roster, like he did for Atlanta with players like Trae Young and Onyeka Okongwau.

Head coach Ime Udoka’s MO is a defense-first approach, and the choice to bring back Capela was the right one, fitting perfectly into the philosophy. Capela will provide an anchor to the defense, and his leadership will certainly enforce the method. Capela will be a nice balance to Şengün, who’s a more offensive threat than he is on defense. 

It’ll be interesting to see how Capela and Durant develop chemistry in their first season together. The two definitely have complimentary skills. Capela’s screens and alley-oops could set the stage for awesome 2-man highlights.

Not only this, but the duo will bring balance to the team because they both have the experience and veteranship needed to stabilize the defense that just might lead Houston to the Finals in later seasons. Capela doesn’t have a championship ring, but both have proven track records in being key assets in deep conference playoffs.

Capela’s return didn’t necessarily make headlines like the Rockets’ other offseason developments. It was a quiet move that will carry the team of young stars and allow Durant and Şengün to do their thing. With Fred VanVleet injured and out for the season, Houston will be glad they made the decision to bring Capela home as he fills that veteran hole and works with Durant and Green to polish and develop the skillsets of the rest of the lineup.