The Atlanta Hawks received an encouraging performance from Landale during their preseason finale against the Dallas Mavericks. The veteran center finished with 16 points, six rebounds, five assists and one block while shooting 4-of-5 from the field and 3-of-4 from beyond the arc.
That production was impressive, but it also served as a reminder of what Atlanta missed during its first-round playoff series against the eventual NBA champion New York Knicks. Landale's absence left the Hawks without a dependable frontcourt contributor who could have made life more difficult for New York.
Landale could have made Hawks more competitive against Knicks
Landale's 2025-26 campaign ended prematurely after suffering a right high-ankle sprain against the Orlando Magic on April 1. Goga Bitadze was assessed a flagrant-2 foul and ejected after pulling Landale down by the shoulder during a dunk attempt.
The injury ultimately prevented Landale from participating in Atlanta's first-round series against New York. Unfortunately, his absence came at a time when the Hawks desperately needed additional size, physicality and reliable production from their frontcourt.
Before the injury, Landale averaged 9.1 points and 4.1 rebounds across 23 games with Atlanta. Those numbers might not immediately stand out, but his ability to contribute without requiring significant offensive touches made him valuable.
Against a physical Knicks team, having another center capable of rebounding, spacing the floor and facilitating offense could have provided Quin Snyder with more flexibility.
That's not suggesting Landale would have single-handedly changed the outcome of the series. However, Atlanta could have been more competitive with another dependable big man available to challenge New York's frontcourt.
A healthy Landale could give Hawks an overlooked advantage
Perhaps the most encouraging part of Landale's performance against Dallas was his overall versatility. He wasn't simply finishing opportunities around the basket but also making plays for teammates and stretching the defense with his perimeter shooting.
His five assists highlighted an underrated element of his offensive game. Having a center who can facilitate ball movement gives Atlanta another option when opponents focus their attention on Jalen Johnson and the team's primary scorers.
Landale's ability to knock down outside shots could also create additional driving opportunities for Johnson. That spacing becomes particularly valuable against physical defenses that prefer to crowd the paint and challenge opponents to make perimeter shots.
Of course, one preseason performance doesn't guarantee Landale will consistently produce at that level. His ability to remain healthy and provide dependable minutes throughout the regular season will ultimately determine his impact.
Still, Friday's performance demonstrated why Atlanta valued bringing him back. The Hawks don't necessarily need Landale to become a star, but they need him to provide reliable production when the competition becomes more demanding.
If Landale can remain healthy, Atlanta might finally benefit from the contributions it desperately missed last postseason.
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