The 2025-26 season has been an emotional rollercoaster for budding star Jalen Johnson and his Atlanta Hawks. After going into the 75th NBA All-Star break with a 26-30 record, the Hawks soared across the country, collecting victories and defending the nest at home in Atlanta.
As of Easter Sunday 2026, they sit at the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference with a record of 45-33. It’s their best record in a decade, but their late-season resurgence has not come without adversity.
Battling their way back into playoff contention cost them their beloved Australian big man, Jock Landale. He suffered a high right ankle sprain in the fourth quarter against the Orlando Magic on the first of April after being pulled to the ground by Magic Center Goga Bitadze.
Orlando’s 26-year-old Georgian was ejected from the game shortly after, but the damage was done, literally. It’s devastating to lose Landale this close to the postseason.
He has played a crucial role in the Hawks' late-season success, bringing his physicality and veteran leadership. His absence forced Atlanta to pivot amid a potential defensive crisis.
On Sunday afternoon, it was reported that Onsi Saleh and the Front office waived forward Caleb Houstan. Although Houstan served the Hawks well when given the minutes, they had to make room for incoming center Tony Bradley.
A temporary solution for permanent results
Signing the former NCAA Champion closes their gaping hole on defense left by Landale’s injury. Bradley was drafted by the Utah Jazz, where he played under Coach Quin Snyder, who now leads the Hawks from the sidelines.
Their familiarity will make the inclusion easier than in most situations under these circumstances. Bradley was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 28th pick in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft, and his draft rights were given to the Utah Jazz.
His best performance came during the 2019-20 season, when he averaged 4.9 points and 4.6 rebounds in 11 minutes per game. They were serviceable numbers for someone who wasn't even getting 15 minutes a night.
Regardless of efforts, Bradley was traded to the Detroit Pistons at the 2020 NBA Draft, who later traded him to the Philadelphia 76ers. It was a disappointing ending in Utah between Snyder and Bradley.
It’ll certainly be a different story with their reunion in Atlanta, and the two have a chance to make the most of it in the playoffs. Snyder signed Bradley because he’s aware of his abilities, and Tony will take advantage of this new opportunity in a rather simple role.
All he has to do is use his 7-foot-5 wingspan to protect the rim in the interior. His 27.5-inch vertical will also be a massive help for Johnson and the Hawks on the glass. Unfortunately, Bradley can’t spread the floor with 3-point shooting like Landale, but he could arguably be a better defender.
Signing the former UNC Tar Heel was an indication that Saleh and the front office refuse to let their comeback season be ruined by a predictable weakness. It’s the most active the Hawks front office has been in years, and we’ll have to let time reveal if this particular decision was the right move.
Luckily for anyone curious about how the Hawks' new center will fare, Atlanta will face the New York Knicks twice and the Miami Heat before the end of the season. Both teams feature All-Star-caliber centers, so the schedule will provide an interesting litmus test of their attempt to recover defensively.