The Atlanta Hawks are making moves before the free agency clock even starts ticking. Less than 24 hours before the league’s signing window opens Tuesday at 6 p.m. EST, the front office agreed to bring back center Jock Landale on a one-year, $14 million contract.
ESPN’s Shams Charania broke the news. Landale’s agents, Sammy Wloszczowski and Mike Lelchitski of SIG Sports, finalized the deal Tuesday. The 30-year-old big man will return to Atlanta for at least another season after a short but effective run with the team.
Landale landed with the Hawks via trade last season and immediately looked like a fit. Over the final stretch, he averaged 10.6 points and 5.7 rebounds. Those aren’t star numbers, but for a backup center playing meaningful minutes in a playoff push, they’re solid. The Hawks made the postseason for the first time since the 2022-23 season, and Landale was part of that turnaround.
There’s some context here worth noting. The Hawks have been searching for reliable depth behind Clint Capela for years. Onyeka Okongwu has flashed potential but dealt with injuries. Bruno Fernando hasn’t stuck. Landale gives them a veteran presence who can bang inside, stretch the floor a little, and doesn’t get overwhelmed in high-leverage moments. $14 million for one year is a reasonable price for that kind of insurance.
It’s also a bet on continuity. Atlanta’s roster has seen a lot of turnover in recent seasons. Keeping Landale in the rotation means one less hole to fill, one fewer adjustment period for Trae Young and the rest of the core. The Hawks are clearly trying to build on last season’s playoff appearance, not tear things down and start over.
The deal isn’t officially signed yet, but Charania’s report is as close to a lock as these things get. Free agency officially opens Tuesday evening, and the Hawks are already on the board.
More details on the contract structure and how this affects the Hawks’ cap situation should come out in the next 24 hours. For now, Atlanta gets its guy back.
Leave a Comment