Trade Proposal Sends Clint Capela To Bulls, Nikola Vucevic To Hawks

One NBA analyst proposed that the Atlanta Hawks trade Clint Capela to the Chicago Bulls for Nikola Vucevic. 

Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report proposed the mock trade. 

Trade idea: The Atlanta Hawks trade Clint Capela to the Chicago Bulls for Nikola Vucevic, Julian Phillips and a 2025 first-round pick (lottery-protected, via POR)

“While the Hawks could go the fire sale route, they might delay a total dismantling since they don’t have control of their next three first-round picks,” Buckley wrote. “So they could try reshuffling the roster around Trae Young instead, swapping out the rim-running Capela for a much more skilled offensive center in Vucevic, plus Phillips, who was last year’s No. 35 pick, and a lottery-protected future first.

“Having a pick-and-pop threat like Vucevic could give Young even more room to operate. It would also help differentiate this center rotation, since the Hawks would have one center for offense and finesse (Vucevic) and another for defense and athleticism (Onyeka Okongwu). Adding a stretch element to the center spot would also give last season’s breakout star Jalen Johnson even more room to operate and hopefully expedite his development.”

The Hawks are trying to trade Capela, while the Bulls are in the same boat with Vucevic.

Both teams are in rebuild mode. 

Capela will make $22.3 million next season in the final year of his contract. He averaged 11.5 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.6 steals and 1.5 blocks in 2023-24 while shooting 57.1% from the field and 63.1% from the free-throw line. The veteran had 38 double-doubles. 

Capela has career averages of 12.3 points, 10.7 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.7 steals and 1.5 blocks with the Houston Rockets and Hawks. He was the 25th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.

Vucevic will make $20 million in 2024-25. The big man averaged 18.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.8 blocks in 2023-24 while shooting 48.4% from the field, 29.4% from beyond the arc and 82.2% from the free-throw line. Vucevic had 45 double-doubles in 76 games. 

The Bulls acquired Vucevic from the Orlando Magic in March 2021. The two-time All-Star has career averages of 17.1 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.9 blocks with the Philadelphia 76ers, Magic and Bulls. He was the 16th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft out of USC.