Last February, when Atlanta acquired Clint Capela, most of the focus surrounding the four-team transaction had little to do with him or his new team. Instead, the Rockets’ radical full-time turn toward small ball gobbled up just about every headline. Their calculus accelerated an idea several teams have flirted with over the past few years: “Traditional” centers are disposable.
After Houston’s plan imploded, Capela came to symbolize his position’s ongoing transformation in the face of a sudden leaguewide preference for skill over size. To clarify the predicament: If you can’t shoot, you can’t play. At the highest level, this is basically true.