Uncertainty around Clint Capela's future with the Rockets

Swiss big man Clint Capela is one of the rising stars in the league but his future with the Houston Rockets doesn't look so secure right now. The meeting between Rockets and Capela's entourage in L.A. wasn't very positive, a league source told Sportando. Capela now is leaning towards taking his qualifying offer for this season, worth around $4.7 mln, and becoming an unrestricted free agent next summer when he'll have a better market, a league source told Sportando. 

The first offer made by Houston was considered disappointing by the player's camp, a source with knowledge of the situation told Sportando. After the meeting, several teams who are expected to have major cap space available in the next summer called in to let Capela's camp know that they'll be ready to offer him a max deal in 2019, a league source told Sportando. In fact, with Capela being a restricted free agent this summer, teams interested in him are afraid that every offer sheet they'll propose would be matched by Houston, so they're willing to play the wait and see game until next summer. 

Capela may take his time before accepting the qualifying offer to put some pressure on the Rockets, creating a very similar scenario to that of Tristan Thompson and the Cleveland Cavaliers back in 2015 offseason. The Swiss big man was one of the biggest factors in Houston success last season, averaging 12.7 points and 11.6 rebounds per game during the regular season, solidifying his reputation as one of the best big men in the league.