The Atlanta Hawks are expected to have competition as they try to retain center Jock Landale.
Even though pending free agent Jock Landale has bounced around quite a bit during his time in the NBA, that doesn't mean he's unwanted around the league.
According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Atlanta Hawks are hoping to retain Landale in free agency. However, Atlanta may have some competition for his services, as Scotto noted that numerous teams are expected to show interest in the center.
NBA teams are allowed to start negotiating with free agents of their choosing on June 30, a little less than two weeks from now.
Landale just had the most productive season of his NBA career. Splitting the 2025-26 season with the Memphis Grizzlies and Hawks, he finished the campaign with averages of 10.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per contest while shooting 51.5 percent from the field and 38.3 percent from beyond the arc.
Atlanta acquired the 30-year-old from Memphis before the trade deadline in exchange for cash considerations. Although he only played in 23 games for the Hawks after the trade, he evidently left enough of an impression to make the franchise want him back. He averaged 9.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game after the trade.
Despite being on the other side of 30, Landale has only played five seasons in the NBA, so he may just now be getting used to what life is like in the association. If that's the case, there could be more success in store for the big man as his career continues.
Landale has also played for the San Antonio Spurs, Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets during his NBA career.
The Hawks are looking to have a strong offseason after they had an unusual 2025-26 campaign. After the regular season featured roster turmoil and a deal that marked the end of the Trae Young era in Atlanta, the team still found itself in the playoffs, but it was eliminated in the first round.
It should be noted, however, that the Hawks managed to take two games from the New York Knicks in that series, who went on to win the NBA Finals. No opponent during the remainder of the Knicks' playoff run was able to get to two wins against them.
If the Hawks can push the right buttons this summer, they may be able to set themselves up for a successful future, and it appears that they think Landale can be part of the plan. Whether they see him as a short-term or long-term piece is unclear, but what does appear evident is that Atlanta might have to fend off some other suitors.
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