76ers need to make sure Clint Capela included in any potential Jimmy Butler trade

If the Philadelphia 76ers end up pulling a sign-and-trade with the Houston Rockets for Jimmy Butler, they need to make sure Clint Capela is part of the deal.

With the Houston Rockets reportedly interested in the possibility of a sign-and-trade with the Philadelphia 76ers for Jimmy Butler, there has already been speculation over which players could be part of a potential deal.

Due to their current roster consisting of players like James Harden and Chris Paul, the Rockets realize the only way they could afford another superstar like Butler is if the team got rid of a few other players to clear up salary cap space.

For obvious reasons, Butler is seeking a max deal this summer, and while early signs have already pointed to the Sixers doing everything in their power to convince the star forward to return, this is far from a guarantee.

In fact, Philadelphia could find themselves at a major disadvantage over the fact that Butler was born in Houston, leaving many to believe he would prefer to play for a team closer to family.

Until anything becomes official, Sixers fans will continue to hold their breath over seeing how this situation with Butler will play out since this past playoff run made it clear just how valuable he can be.

But also, if Philadelphia knows they’re going to lose Butler in free agency, they may as well have a backup plan over a potential sign-and-trade with Houston when it comes to certain players worth targeting.

Right away, Clint Capela is the one player who immediately comes to mind in regards to which current members of the Rockets the Sixers should target since it almost seems impossible that Houston would be able to keep him around if Butler were to come on board.

Adding another big man to the picture with Joel Embiid already part of the mix would seem like a waste of time for Philadelphia since the money Capela would bring along could be used elsewhere, but also imagine if the Sixers found a way to make this work.

For a player who just turned 25 in May, and averaged double-doubles over the last two seasons, Capela seems like he would be a great addition for a Sixers team facing more pressure than ever to compete with the best in the Eastern Conference.

Obviously, the top priority is going to be Butler to help Philadelphia build off their success from this past season, but if they needed a backup plan involving a potential trade with Houston, Capela needs to be part of the package, no matter what it takes.

Otherwise, anything else will only look like a complete waste for the Sixers, and put them in the same boat as last summer in which they were still in need of a third superstar.