Hawks' next move after Jock Landale trade couldn't be more clear

Here we go.

The last 24 hours in the NBA world have been nuts. Many expected this year's deadline to be an underwhelming one, and it sure looked like it was going to be... until it wasn't.

For most of the season, the Hawks seemed to be the only team attempting to get the ball rolling in the trade market. Before major league-wide activity began taking place on Tuesday, Atlanta was involved in two of the three in-season trades that had gone down.

After trading Trae Young to the Washington Wizards and Vit Krejci to the Portland Trail Blazers, it was clear that the Hawks, unlike the rest of the league, weren't looking to settle.

The Young deal was a major one, no doubt, but their follow-up moves haven't necessarily been notable enough to spark headlines. For a team that understands their immediate ceiling, improving around the margins while staying true to their planned timeline is always the right move.

They got themselves involved in the wild Wednesday afternoon timeline, agreeing on a deal that directly addresses a consistent issue in the lineup. According to ESPN's Shams Charania, "The Atlanta Hawks are acquiring center Jock Landale from the Utah Jazz for cash considerations."

Again, not a flashy pickup by any means, but a necessary one. Atlanta's been in the market for an end-of-rotation big for quite some time, and Landale perfectly fills that need. Averaging 11.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game on efficient shooting splits, the 6'11 center will fit seamlessly into a small backup role.

Adding his cheap, one-year deal for just cash considerations comes with no risk, an important factor in Onsi Saleh's decision-making process. While they don't necessarily need to do anything else major, one thing will need to happen before this deal can be made official.

The Hawks have some roster-cutting to do over the next 24 hours...

Atlanta doesn't have an open roster spot! If it was a one-for-one swap that brought in Landale, no more moves would be necessary. That isn't the case, and in order for the deal to go through, the Hawks either need to waive a player or trade one away for only draft capital.

It's an easy decision, frankly. Two of their rostered centers are out for the season with separate injuries. One of N'Faly Dante or Duop Reath will likely be waived by 3 PM ET on Thursday, allowing for Jock Landale to officially land in Atlanta and become valuable depth at the center position.

The great aspect of the Landale deal, that no one seems to be talking about, is that it doesn't really close the door on anything. Every rumor mentioned previously still stands, even those involving Atlanta bringing in another big man.

The trade deadline is now less than 24 hours away, and the Hawks don't at all appear to be done making moves. In Onsi we trust.