Will They Sign A Proven Big Man?

General manager Daryl Morey shipped Clint Capela to Atlanta at the trade deadline as Houston wanted to transition into more of a small-ball team. However, Capela was a very good center and an important part of their defense in the paint.

Now, they have just one true big on their roster and that’s Tyson Chandler, who is on the verge of retirement. Sure, Houston was an electric offensive team thanks to Harden and Westbrook, but if you can’t stop the opposition from continually scoring down low because you lack a true big, then it doesn’t really matter how many points you’re putting up each night. 

A 6-foot-5 PJ Tucker became their starting center once Capela was traded. They also have no player over 6-foot-7 in their starting lineup. Tucker is a great player, but he’s most effective at power forward or even small forward. He did a relatively decent job guarding big men when he was given the task, but it’s crucial they sign a true center who has experience at the position.

Even though Houston’s offense runs strictly through Harden and Westbrook, it’s always nice to have a big who can hold his own defensively but also contribute points. This is exactly what they need this offseason to fill the void left by Capela.