The Atlanta Hawks signed Jock Landale to a one-year $14.1 million contract that seemed like an overpay, but the franchise wanted a trade deadline chip to offer as it tries to find Jalen Johnson a co-star before the deadline. Landale’s expiring money will be viewed as a needed salary-matcher. He made $20.7 million in his first five years in the NBA. This was a significant raise, but it makes more sense after the Hawks’ offseason moves.
Atlanta has $52.8 million in expiring salaries after re-signing CJ McCollum and trading for Luguentz Dort. Fans know they’ve been searching for a star to pair with Johnson. That is a ton of matching salary over multiple positions that lets the Hawks go in any direction they wish. They gave up three second-round draft picks to get Dort, but that move benefitted others more than the Hawks.
Landale is a backup big man coming off a career year. The 30-year-old proved to be a plus floor spacer, but questions remain about his defense. Landale was rumored to be drawing multi-year offers, so the Hawks had to up the price to keep him. Landale can mentor Henri Veesaar for a few months before the front office starts searching for a difference-making trade.
Hawks signed Jock Landale to have a trade deadline chip
Atlanta has draft capital to trade and a clear need for a star. McCollum was outstanding last season, but the 35-year-old doesn’t fit long-term. The core of Johnson, Dyson Daniels, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker is just entering their primes and ready to build off last year’s playoff experience.
Those three talented players need one more star to have a serious shot at title contention. The Hawks are keeping their options open just in case that player hits the trade market before the deadline.
Signing Landale on a multi-year deal at $8-plus million per season would complicate things. Every dollar counts in the second apron era, so teams are avoiding putting any unwanted money on their books. Having multiple years or a potentially bad contract can instantly crush a player’s value. Look no further than players like Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and Jaylen Brown getting traded for significantly less than fans thought they would.
This could turn into a genius move by the Hawks. Signing Landale for $14.1 million gives Atlanta wiggle room under the first apron and a trade chip that could acquire someone making $20-plus if not added to another contract. Onsi Saleh and the front office have flexibility and options that wouldn’t have been available on a smaller contract.
Teams won’t think about Landale being an overpay because his contract comes off the books at the end of the season. A rebuilding team may even buy him out and let the veteran finish the year on a contender.
The Hawks were playing chess, not checkers here. They knew giving Landale a bit more would lock him in as their backup center early in the year and create an interesting trade chip at the deadline. Fans have seen Saleh be aggressive. He will certainly shop Landale and could pull off a surprise trade in February.
The Atlanta Hawks signed Jock Landale on a one-year expiring salary to have a trade chip at the deadline. They will be hunting for marquee names, and the 6’11 big man could be the piece that gets this trade over the line. Nobody will be calling it an overpay if that happens. The front office has flexibility and will be aggressive. Only time will tell how that works out.
Add us as a preferred source on Google