The Golden State Warriors have made several moves to improve their roster this offseason but might still be exploring more trades. They’ve been targeting a superstar but haven’t succeeded yet. Additionally, the Warriors could use more size, as their frontcourt remains undersized. Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report suggested a trade that could address this need by acquiring Clint Capela from the Atlanta Hawks.
The proposed trade would send Capela to the Warriors in exchange for Moses Moody, Gary Payton II, Kevon Looney, and a 2026 second-round pick from Atlanta.
Buckley noted, “Last season, the Warriors struggled at times due to a lack of size and depth at the center position, and they haven’t done much to address it this offseason besides drafting Quinten Post with the 52nd pick. Adding Capela would immediately provide them with size (6’10”, 240 lbs), rim protection, and athleticism. While it’s not the superstar acquisition they’ve been pursuing, it would still be a valuable addition. Over his 10-year career, teams with Capela have performed 3.4 points better per 100 possessions with him on the court.”
However, is Capela an upgrade over Looney? Trading Moody, Payton II, and Looney for an aging player in the final year of his two-year, $45.9 million contract is a significant price.
Last season, Capela averaged 11.5 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 25.8 minutes per game, shooting 63.1% from the field. Looney, in comparison, averaged 4.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 16.1 minutes per game. Two seasons ago, when Looney started 70 of 82 games and played nearly 24 minutes per game, his stats were comparable to Capela’s, with 7.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists.
The height difference between Capela (6-foot-10) and Looney (6-foot-9) is minimal, so the Warriors would mainly be giving up a young asset like Moody, who could be part of a future star trade.
If the Warriors want to explore other options to upgrade at the center, they could use a similar package for a younger player. For example, Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz could be a better fit. According to Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus, the Jazz have considered trading Kessler, as he might not be in their long-term plans.
Kessler averaged 8.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game in his second NBA season and made the All-Rookie team in his first year. At just 23 years old, he could also be part of the Warriors’ future.
