Australian NBA veteran Jock Landale has reached an agreement on a one-year, $US14 million ($A20 million) deal to re-sign with the Atlanta Hawks. The deal cannot be signed or announced by the team before July 6, but Landale marked the news with a photo of himself celebrating during a game. Atlanta helped to clear financial room for the 30-year-old Melburnian by declining their $US24.3 million ($A35.1 million) team option on forward Jonathan Kuminga.
Contract Details and Career Impact
Monday was the last day for the Hawks to commit to the option, and the decision made Kuminga a free agent. Landale averaged 9.1 points and 4.1 rebounds in 23 regular-season games with Atlanta, but missed the team’s playoff loss to the New York Knicks because of a sprained right ankle sustained in a flagrant foul. “It was frustrating. It changed the course of our season a little bit,” Landale told AAP in May. “We found a nice groove as a squad and it feels like that kind of derailed that continuity that we’d built ... I really feel like I could’ve helped in the Knicks series.”
Trade and Performance History
The Hawks acquired the 6-foot-11 centre from Utah on February 4, one day after Landale was traded from Memphis to the Jazz as part of an eight-player deal. Overall, in 68 games with the Grizzlies and Atlanta last season, Landale set career highs with his averages of 10.6 points and 5.7 rebounds. The 2021 NBL champion and Olympic bronze medallist has averaged 6.6 points and 3.9 rebounds in five NBA seasons.
Financial Boost and Career Turnaround
The new contract will seriously boost Landale’s NBA earnings, having previously signed contracts worth a total of US$20.8m ($A31m). His previous peak annual salary came in at US$8m as part of a two-year deal with the Houston Rockets. The deal also marks a serious turnaround in his career after considering moving to a European league or even a possible return home to the NBL. He went into a “panic” when traded by Memphis but his Atlanta stint, which began with a six-hour drive and a career-best night, “reignited that spark” to stick in the NBA.
Future Aspirations
“Hopefully I can play in the league for another five years or so,” Landale said in May. “I enjoy the challenge of improving and silencing some of the critics. A lot of people thought I’d never last in the NBA and never thought I’d be sought-after, and I think that I’m starting to prove myself to be quite a beneficial player for a team. I want to keep on growing in that capacity and if hunger was an issue then I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing.”
Kuminga’s Departure
The Hawks acquired Kuminga and guard Buddy Hield in a deal that sent centre Kristaps Porzingis to the Golden State Warriors at the trade deadline. Kuminga averaged 12.3 points in 16 regular-season games, including one start, with Atlanta. He averaged 13.7 points in the playoff loss to the Knicks.
