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After an outstanding 2020-21 season, center Clint Capela and the Atlanta Hawks have agreed to a two-year contract extension, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Atlanta Hawks center Clint Capela has agreed on a two-year, $46M extension, sources tell ESPN. He had two years left on his current deal and now is under contract through 2024-2025.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 1, 2021
Capela is now locked up for at least the next four seasons along with Trae Young and John Collins, who also signed extensions this offseason. The deal reportedly adds a potential $46.9 million for Capela per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
Clint Capela signed a two-year, $46.9 million extension, including a total of $4 million in bonuses he can try and achieve in the deal, league sources told @hoopshype. https://t.co/HzScMqMshF
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) September 1, 2021
The move comes on the heels of a career season for Capela, who posted career highs in both blocks and rebounds in his first season playing for the Hawks. Capela led the NBA in rebounding, and was the anchor of a much improved Atlanta defense.
The Hawks now have the bulk of their starting lineup locked in through 2023-24, with a potential Kevin Huerter extension waiting in the wings as well.
Atlanta now has close to $100M in committed salary in 2023-24 to 4 players: Trae Young, John Collins, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Capela.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) September 1, 2021
Upcoming decisions include rookie extensions for:
- Kevin Huerter (now)
- Cam Reddish and DeAndre Hunter (next offseason)
Huerter is currently eligible for his rookie extension, and may want to lock in a solid payday coming off of a great season (and postseason). Hawks President/GM Travis Schlenk continues to lock up key contributors, and a move to secure Huerter’s future with Atlanta would certainly align with the rest of the moves the Hawks have made this offseason.
The Capela extension does put a bit of a cloud over 2020 No. 6 overall pick Onyeka Okongwu’s future with the Hawks, as he would now likely play his entire rookie contract off the bench behind Capela if he stays in Atlanta, something most No. 6 overall picks probably wouldn’t be excited about. Okongwu, who is likely out until the middle of the 2021-22 season, played a key role off the bench for the Hawks on their 2021 playoff run and looks like a promising young talent.
Stay tuned.