Despite some initial uncertainty about the future of Atlanta Hawks big man Jock Landale, the two sides appear to have found common ground on a deal.
Despite some initial uncertainty about the future of Atlanta Hawks big man Jock Landale, the two sides appear to have found common ground on a deal.
Landale intends to return to the Hawks on a one-year contract worth $14 million, according to a report from ESPN's Shams Charania.
Landale's market was expected to be large in free agency, but in the end, it doesn't look like he is going to test the waters. He's now set to return to the team he spent the end of the 2025-26 campaign with after being traded there near the deadline.
Overall, Landale averaged 10.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game this past season while shooting 51.5 percent from the field and 38.3 percent from beyond the arc.
With the Hawks, he appeared in 23 games and averaged 9.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists per contest.
They clearly liked what they saw, even though an injury kept him out of the postseason. The timing was unfortunate for Atlanta, especially since the team's series against the New York Knicks exposed matchup issues in the frontcourt.
If the Hawks make the playoffs again in the 2026-27 season, Landale will have a chance to contribute.
At 30 years old, he isn't exactly a young player anymore, but he only has five years of experience at the NBA level. As such, he may still be adjusting to life in the association.
That might help explain the leap he took this past season, as he posted several career-highs. If a similar jump is in store this coming season, he could become a sneaky piece for the Hawks in the Eastern Conference.
Atlanta has already had a busy offseason and is in the midst of a transition as it adjusts to life in the post-Trae Young era. There are already some very solid pieces in place, and there will be no shortage of new faces in the building this coming season as well.
Landale will not be one of them. His familiarity with the franchise, even if he only spent part of last season in Atlanta, could go a long way and certainly laid the groundwork for the team to sign him to the reported deal.
NBA free agency is just about to get going, so it will be worth keeping an eye on the Hawks to see what other roster moves they have in store.
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