Rockets bring back franchise legend in surprise $21 million free agent deal after getting Dorian Finney-Smith

Billy Heyen

Rockets bring back franchise legend in surprise $21 million free agent deal after getting Dorian Finney-Smith image

The Houston Rockets have shelled out the early free agency money.

They added Dorian Finney-Smith on Monday night, but that wasn't all.

Soon after, they agreed to terms with center Clint Capela on a three-year, $21 million deal, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.

It's a reunion for Capela.

He was the 25th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft by the Rockets.

He spent the first six seasons of his NBA career with the Rockets as a fantastic defensive center who improved his offensive game over time.

Capela's last five seasons were spent in Atlanta.

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His minutes fell off the past couple seasons with the Hawks.

Capela is looking at a bench role in Houston behind star center Alperen Sengun.

The 31-year old has averaged 12.0 points and 10.5 rebounds per game in his NBA career.

Late in games, Capela can fill-in for Sengun on key defensive possessions and still get the job done.

Well done by the Rockets to keep improving in a high-powered Western Conference. They were the No. 2 seed last season but were upset in the first round, and they don't want that to happen again.

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Billy Heyen

Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who has written about many sports and fantasy sports for The Sporting News. Sports reporting work has also appeared in a number of newspapers, including the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle