The talk of adding a big man in free agency is a tune that Los Angeles Lakers fans should know incredibly well by now. It is one that will be sung to death up until the conclusion of the NBA offseason. Luckily for the Lakers and their fans, there is one man that has emerged as both a practical and ideal target for the team.

Imagine in your heads the perfect type of center for Los Angeles. Picture the type of player who would fit well with Luka Doncic offensively. Now, picture the type of big man who could figure into what JJ Redick and his staff have tried to build defensively. After all that, look down the listen of potential free agents for this NBA offseason and you will likely land on Clint Capela.

NBA rumors suggest the Clint Capela sweepstakes are on

One could definitely argue that Myles Turner, Naz Reid, and Brook Lopez are all better fits for the Lakers in the 2025 free agency period. However, the big issue with those players would be whether Rob Pelinka could afford to bring them to Los Angeles on a deal that would work for the team. That should not be a major issue with Capela.

While the Atlanta Hawks center remains productive, averaging 8.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.0 block per game, the Swiss big man should not break the bank for the Lakers. They should theoretically be able to land him on a very affordable deal. This will be especially true if the words of Drew Hanlen, a renowned NBA trainer, are to be believed.

While on the subject of believing someone’s words, Michael Scotto recently dropped his latest offering of NBA intel. In that roundup, the NBA insider revealed that Capela is trending away from staying in Atlanta.

Scotto wrote, “After being benched in favor of Onyeka Okongwu and dangled in trade talks before the deadline, the early expectation is Hawks center Clint Capela will sign elsewhere in unrestricted free agency this summer, league sources told HoopsHype.”

Capela may be past his best days in the NBA. However, after seeing Doncic help Jaxson Hayes bump his production up, does anyone believe that the Lakers superstar could not help the athletic big man have a career renaissance offensively in Los Angeles?

Capela worked tremendously well with the best version of James Harden, during their time together on the Houston Rockets. The pick-and-roll partnership between him and Doncic should have the opportunity to function in a similar mold.

The addition of Capela will also offer the Lakers a strong presence on the boards and on the defensive interior. Despite being on his way to hitting 31 years of age, the brand of basketball played by the Hawks center would greatly satisfy the build that Los Angeles is seeking.