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Three high-priority free agent targets for the Cavaliers next summer

By Evan Dammarell

OAKLAND, CA - MAY 22: Clint Capela #15 and Trevor Ariza #1 of the Houston Rockets play defense against Kevon Looney #5 of the Golden State Warriors during Game Four of the Western Conference Finals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 20, 2018 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - MAY 22: Clint Capela #15 and Trevor Ariza #1 of the Houston Rockets play defense against Kevon Looney #5 of the Golden State Warriors during Game Four of the Western Conference Finals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 20, 2018 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – FEBRUARY 3: Clint Capela #15 of the Houston Rockets dunks the ball during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on February 3, 2018 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – FEBRUARY 3: Clint Capela #15 of the Houston Rockets dunks the ball during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on February 3, 2018 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Clint Capela

The 2017-18 Houston Rockets season was a great success for the team. They finished with the top record in the Western Conference and was a Chris Paul hamstring injury away from reaching the 2018 NBA Finals. Paul, along with NBA MVP James Harden, were both vital to the Rockets’ success and Houston will be a contender out West for a while.

They also received quite a bit of help from center Clint Capela, who was the anchor of the Rockets’ defense as well as a high-octane rim runner.

Last season Capela averaged 13.9 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks which made him a likely candidate for an extension from Houston. But, talks between Capela’s camp and the Rockets have snagged. Because of this, Capela may opt into his last year and enter unrestricted free agency next summer.

If this were to happen, the Cavaliers should come calling. As the roster currently stands, sophomore big Ante Zizic and Tristan Thompson are the only traditional centers on the roster. Kevin Love and Larry Nance Jr. will both likely see time at the five for Cleveland, which is out of position for them.

Obviously, the Cavaliers would like to address this problem and landing Capela would be the perfect signing.

As mentioned before, Capela’s bread and butter is on the defensive side of the ball. He has developed into arguably the best rim protector in the league and gobbles up defensive boards.

Rim protection and defensive rebounding are things the Cavaliers struggled with last season and Capela would remedy their problems. If the Cavs were to pair Capela with Nane it would create a nasty defensive duo.

The other thing Capela brings to the table is his youth. Next summer Capela will only be 25 and fits in perfectly with the team’s overall timeline. Capela can grow and enter his prime with the rest of the team, and run the table on the Eastern Conference.

While the Cavaliers summer has been tough after losing its King and not being a major player in free agency, the future is still bright. They will take their lumps this season, and very well could end up selecting early in the 2019 NBA Draft. But, next summer the Cavs can clear their books and add to their young core.

Next: Cleveland Cavaliers: Top 30 all-time greatest players

If fans stay patient, the Cavaliers could be back in playoff contention in a little over a year.