There was no need for Clint Capela to catch this stray.
Capela, a 12-year center currently on the Rockets, became the target of a dig uttered by Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton. According to ESPN, Ayton was speaking with reporters after a frustrating loss Tuesday, Feb. 24 against the Magic. As the interview ended, ESPN reported that Ayton revealed a candid thought loud enough for anyone in the locker room to hear.
“They’re trying to make me Clint Capela,” Ayton said, per ESPN. “I’m not no Clint Capela.”
Ayton is right. He’s not Clint Capela; he’s far more athletically gifted. But, if anything, Ayton should aspire to the consistency and effort Capela has shown in his career. He should embrace the buy-in Capela showed over his stops in Houston and Atlanta. Because that’s just what the Lakers need.
Los Angeles is currently in sixth place in the stacked Western Conference, at 34-23. The Lakers are two games ahead of the No. 7 team, the Phoenix Suns, and it will be essential for L.A. to maintain its position there to avoid the play-in window.
But, going back to games before the NBA All-Star break, the Lakers have lost four of their last six. This comes at a time when Los Angeles is actually enjoying a spell of health, with Austin Reaves returning from a left calf strain. Aside from a few bumps and bruises, the Lakers are as close to full health as they’ve been in some time.
This is where Ayton’s offensive fit becomes an issue. On a team with a pair of ball-dominant playmakers like Luka Dončić and LeBron James, a tertiary option is going to see his usage drop considerably. But, this season, the Lakers have seen the rise of guard Austin Reaves, who’s averaging career highs in points (25.0) and field goal attempts (15.7).
That has reduced opportunities for Ayton, who is 13.2 points on 9.0 attempts per game. Ayton is shooting a career-high 66.7% from the floor and is adding a career-low 8.5 rebounds per game. Often, especially late in games, Ayton becomes more of a threat as a screener than he does as a scorer, which is understandably frustrating.
The question for the Lakers becomes if they feel it’s more efficient and effective to have the offense run through Dončić, James and Reaves (which it is) as opposed to manufacturing targeted touches for Ayton.
At his peak, Capela was a high-effort defensive force in the paint who adapted to his limited jump shot and offensive efficiency, instead becoming an efficient lob threat who found high-percentage buckets by sprinting into position.
The thing is, Ayton is far more athletic than Capela ever will be. A 7-foot big with an absurd wingspan and speed and leaping ability, Ayton has the ability to blow past defenders and outwork and outjump rebounders. It’s his effort that has let him down.
Consider this: Ayton’s best statistical season came in his final season in Phoenix, in 2022-23. Capela’s top year was in 2018-19, with the Rockets.
Ayton: 18.0 points on 58.9% shooting, 10.0 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game in 67 appearances.
Capela: 16.6 points on 64.8% shooting, 12.7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game in 67 appearances.
Capela, however, led the NBA in rebounding (14.3) in 2020-21 and led the league in offensive rebounds (4.7) that same season, tied for the league lead in 2023-24 (4.6). Capela was the No. 25 selection in the 2014 NBA Draft. Ayton was the No. 1 overall pick in 2018.
Ayton has had a fine, if underwhelming, career. Though his athleticism is undeniable, he often finds himself out of position on defense. When his usage drops, he often becomes disengaged and his effort dips.
Capela hasn’t been perfect, or even stellar, in his own career. But there are plenty of things Ayton could learn from him.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Deandre Ayton should embrace Clint Capela-type role | Opinion
