Paul George trade: Why Rockets can't include Clint Capela in package for Indiana Pacers

The Houston Rockets rocked the landscape of the NBA Wednesday when they pulled off a trade that landed them All-Star point guard Chris Paul in exchange for a haul of role players. Rockets general manager Daryl Morey, however, is just getting started and has his eyes set on disgruntled Indiana Pacers star Paul George.

It's no secret that the Pacers are on the verge of trading their franchise player. But the new front office, under president Kevin Pritchard, is weighing offers from teams such as the Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics before pulling the trigger on the next blockbuster trade of the NBA offseason.

Pritchard has urged patience from his fan base as the team prepares to hit the reset button and build around budding star Myles Turner. But the Pacers, already playing with little leverage, can't wait too much longer.

According to ESPN insider Kevin Pelton, the Pacers could be hesitant to accept Houston Rockets centre Clint Capela in the potential trade package for George. Though Turner played the Power Forward position in his rookie season, he is most effective at the 5 spot in the modern NBA. Pacers coach Nate McMillan would likely struggle to include both Capela and Turner in his starting line-up for next season.

Paul George to Houston: Can Capela and Turner play together?

"Besides Harden and Paul, Houston's most valuable trade chip is 23-year-old center Clint Capela, who emerged as a solid starter last season. And that presents a problem in a George trade because the Pacers would be building around their own center, Myles Turner.

"It's possible Indiana believes Turner, 21, could play with Capela, given he started at power forward alongside Ian Mahinmi as a rookie before moving to centre last season. More likely, if the Rockets were willing to include Capela in a George trade they'd have to recruit a third team to take him and send the Pacers draft picks or other young players.

"Houston probably needs to include Capela, because otherwise the team's offer for George is badly limited. Gordon's contract, which has three years and US$40.5 million (AU$52.8 million) remaining, looks reasonable after he enjoyed a career year in Mike D'Antoni's system. He'd also be going back to his hometown. Still, Gordon is 28, so he doesn't bring much upside to the Pacers," Pelton wrote in his insider piece published Thursday.

Besides Capela, the Rockets would have to include reigning Sixth Man of the Year Eric Gordon in the potential trade package.

Stretch-4 forward Ryan Anderson is another option. According to Pelton, the Pacers would have little interest in the remaining three years of Anderson's four-year, US$80 million (AU$104 million) contract. On Wednesday, ESPN’s Zach Lowe reported Wednesday that Morey was unable to find a team to take Anderson's contract into cap space without getting any assets from the Rockets.

Paul George trade: Pacers reluctant to take Ryan Anderson’s contract

"Besides Paul and James Harden, Ryan Anderson is the only other Houston player with a sufficiently large salary to match George on his own, and Indiana probably wouldn't have much interest in the remaining US$61 million (AU$79 million) and change on his contract. Enter the non-guaranteed contracts. The Rockets could send two of them along with Sixth Man Award winner Eric Gordon and make a cap-legal trade for George without needing to send any bad salary the Pacers' direction," wrote Pelton, explaining the challenges faced by Morey.

Typically, a package of Capela, Gordon -- a native of Indiana -- and veteran forward Trevor Ariza could prove to be enough for a "one-year rental" such as George, who is expected to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency next July. However, the Pacers could be reluctant to accept the contracts of aging role players and Capela, who might struggle to co-exist with Turner in the starting unit. Stay tuned for the latest news and updates on the Paul George to Houston situation and other Paul George trade news.