The Atlanta Hawks are likely to enter the 2026 offseason facing the same question that they hear right now: What does the future look like at center? Onyeka Okongwu has turned in a memorable 2025-26 campaign, but depth remains a question mark and some are even questioning if the starter of the future is present.
If the Hawks believe that Okongwu can be the center of the future, then the question of who should be the backup in 2026-27 has already been answered: Current Atlanta reserve Jock Landale.
The Hawks acquired Landale as a part of the multi-team trade that sent Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz. He's hit the ground running, recording gaudy stat lines and providing an intriguing level of baseline value as a two-way player.
Unfortunately, Landale will become an unrestricted free agent this coming summer and could thus leave the Hawks after less than a full season.
With this in mind, Atlanta must do what it can to ensure that he remains on the roster for the 2026-27 campaign. He's not only an ideal backup to Okongwu, but one of the unsung heroes of the Hawks' brilliant run of 17 wins in 19 games.
It's both a benefit to the current team and a resolution to a long-term issue that Landale has found his fit as the ideal backup for the Hawks.
Jock Landale is thriving in Atlanta, must be re-signed this summer
Landale has appeared in 23 games since being traded to the Hawks, averaging 19.4 minutes per contest. During that time, he's averaged 9.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.8 offensive boards, 1.7 assists, 0.6 blocks, and 1.1 three-point field goals made on .516/.391/.541 shooting.
Those numbers translate to eye-opening marks of 16.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.4 offensive boards, 3.2 assists, 1.1 blocks, and 2.0 three-point field goals made per 36 minutes.
Though Landale may not always stuff the stat sheet, he's proven more than capable of going off when the Hawks need him. That includes a recent outing during which he posted 19 points, 13 rebounds, six offensive boards, four assists, and two blocks in 34 minutes.
It also includes the 26 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, and four blocks he managed during his Hawks debut.
With a well-rounded offensive skill set that allows him to create for his teammates, generate second chances, and score inside, Landale can change the outlook of a game. He's also checking essential boxes on defense, ranking in the 74th percentile in rim protection, the 85th percentile in post defense, and the 88th percentile in screener mobile defense, per Basketball Index.
Atlanta will have options to consider at the NBA Draft, as well as in free agency, but Landale is proving to be the type of talent who can swing momentum in their favor. Re-signing him must be a priority.