The Celtics Better Not Be One Of These Teams Who Are Potentially Interested In Clint Capela

(ESPN) - The Houston Rockets are actively discussing several trade scenarios involving center Clint Capela, including with a host of Eastern Conference franchises, league sources told ESPN.

The Rockets are engaged in three-way trade possibilities that might allow for them to use Capela to gather the draft assets needed to acquire an impact wing player, league sources said.

In talks around the league, the Rockets are expressing hope they can find a deal -- or a series of deals -- that would bring them back a wing and a center for Capela by Thursday's 3 p.m. ET trade deadline, sources said.

Let me start this off by acknowledging that Clint Capela is a very good center. The way he protects the rim and thrives in P&R is valuable and he's been a pretty good fit so far for the Rockets. In no way does he suck, far from it. Having said all that, I need Danny Ainge to stay the fuck away from this. I have nothing to think he's actually in on a potential Capela deal outside of that one line from Woj where he says a "host of Eastern Conference franchises". I can't just sit here and ignore the history Ainge and Morey have together and think that there wasn't at least a phone call or two about this potential move and I cannot stress enough that this is something I'm going to need Ainge to pass on. 

I've said in blog after blog I have no interest in moving a core piece of this team to marginally upgrade at center. What the Celts have gotten from Theis/Kanter so far this season has been more than enough, and I have the evidence to support that claim. The Celtics are 10th in REB%, 7th in OREB%, 12th in PIITP, 4th in Opponents PIITP, 12th in Opponents 2nd chance points, and I would argue that when you look at what Capela does well (rebound, rim protection) this is how he compares to someone like Daniel Theis

Clint Capela: 26.5% DREB% / 1.8 blocks (49% BLK%)

Daniel Theis: 25.7% DREB% / 1.4 blocks (47.4% BLK%)

You add in the fact that Theis can spread the floor and set screens, can defend better on the perimeter against smaller guys, and I just don't see how this would potentially be an upgrade and certainly not one that would justify what it would cost. That brings me to the second part of what I'm out on this. Look at Capela's deal

You're not going to unload Hayward's $30M (which I am also against) because he makes too much money, so that means we're looking more at the likes of Marcus Smart + pieces in order to figure this all out. If you think this team is better off with Clint Capela than Marcus Smart I'm not sure what the fuck you've been watching. Considering how banged up this team has been I can't see how it makes sense to unload their ultimate Swiss Army knife and lifeblood of this team for a player who basically does what Daniel Theis already gives you. 

When you think rationally, all the signs point to not having to worry about Ainge going all 2012 Ainge when he traded Perk midseason and ruined this team's chemistry. We just saw this frontcourt without Kanter dominate the shit out of Tacko-Lite on Saturday, so I can't find an angle that this would make any sense.

But then I remember just when you don't think Ainge is going to do something he gets that itch, even though he's basically been nonexistent during the trade deadline since the Isaiah deal. My stance has always been this team needs bench scoring/shooting help over big man help and I'm more than happy to see what the buyout market has, or maybe an end of bench player + picks for a veteran on a minimum salary. When it comes to trading real pieces for something that isn't even an upgrade, I'm all set and I'm going to need Danny Ainge to feel that way too.