The Atlanta Hawks find themselves in a pivotal offseason, with a glaring need to bolster their center position. Last summer's high-stakes move for Kristaps Porzingis didn't pan out as hoped, leaving Atlanta to navigate free agency with a mix of young talent and question marks. Currently, the Hawks' options in the frontcourt include Onyeka Okongwu, Mouhamed Gueye (who's not a traditional center), and rookies Zuby Ejiofor and Henri Veesaar.
While the Hawks are enthusiastic about the long-term potential of Ejiofor and Veesaar, they're not in a rebuilding phase. After a 46-win season and a playoff appearance, Atlanta is looking to compete now, not develop rookies through heavy minutes. This situation suggests that the Hawks could benefit from adding a veteran presence to their center rotation.
Enter Jock Landale, acquired at the trade deadline in February for cash considerations. Landale quickly became a significant contributor off the bench, playing 23 games and averaging 9.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game, while impressively shooting 39% from beyond the arc. His ability to stretch the floor and his physical presence made him a valuable asset, particularly missed when an injury sidelined him during the playoffs.
Now an unrestricted free agent, Landale is expected to attract considerable interest across the league. According to HoopsHype's Michael Scotto, the Hawks, along with the Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, and Cleveland Cavaliers, are all potential suitors for the Australian center. With offers likely to exceed the bi-annual exception, Landale's next contract will be a topic of much discussion.
The Hawks face a critical decision: Are they prepared to offer Landale more than the bi-annual exception, approximately $5.5 million, to keep him as a backup center? Or do they envision him as a third option, with Gueye, Ejiofor, and Veesaar rounding out the depth chart? Landale's own aspirations will also play a role-does he see himself as a primary backup, or is he content being a third-string center?
With a scarcity of marquee free agents, Landale's versatility and performance with the Hawks have not gone unnoticed, making him a hot commodity. The Lakers and Clippers, both in need of reliable center depth, will be teams to watch. Meanwhile, the 76ers are searching for a backup to Joel Embiid, and the Cavaliers could use Landale behind Jarrett Allen.
As free agency kicks off, the question remains: Can the Hawks secure Landale's return, or will they continue their search for additional depth at center? The answer could significantly shape their roster and competitive prospects for the upcoming season.
In Other News...
Hawks Just Made A Backup Center Move With Bigger Implications
Atlanta had already spent the summer sorting out the edges of its frontcourt, and Nicolo Mellis return clarifies at least one part of the picture. The Hawks are bringing him back on a one-year, fully guaranteed deal worth $14 million, using nearly all of their non-taxpayer mid-level exception to get it done because his Non-Bird Rights would not have allowed them to get to that salary any other way. The move points to a clear role for Melli behind Onyeka Okongwu, giving Atlanta a backup center option it knows well.
Mellis return also comes with a bit of roster math attached, because the Hawks are now closer to the tax line and have less flexibility for whatever comes next. He was productive in his time with Atlanta, and his floor spacing gives the team a different look when Okongwu sits, but the bigger question is how much room the Hawks will have left to maneuver if another decision needs to be made before camp. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Just Sent A Telling Message About Their Center Debate
Atlantas center conversation appears to have settled at least for now, with Jock Landale set to return on a one-year deal and the front office signaling it is comfortable moving forward with Onyeka Okongwu as the starting five. The message from the Hawks is pretty clear: they are leaning into the group they already have rather than chasing a pricier fix on the open market, and Landales return gives them another experienced body in the middle without forcing a major reshuffle.
Landale also arrived with a built-in role after coming over from the Utah Jazz just before the trade deadline, so this is not exactly a fresh experiment. What makes the decision more interesting is the way Atlanta views its own finish to last season, since Landales late injury may have had a hand in the playoff issues against the Knicks, especially around rim protection and rebounding. Even with that backdrop, the Hawks seem prepared to trust continuity over a bigger splash, and that choice says plenty about how they see the center debate right now. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Still Face One Risky Free Agency Fix They Can't Ignore
The Hawks offseason checklist still starts inside, where the need for more size and steadier rim protection has been obvious enough to shape how they approach free agency. With a path potentially opening up after Atlanta declined Jonathan Kumingas team option, the front office has at least some flexibility to look at the kind of center help that can ease the burden on Onyeka Okongwu and tighten things up defensively.
Jock Landale gives Atlanta a familiar fallback after being solid down the stretch, while Sacha Mamukelashvili brings a different kind of appeal with his spacing and improved production. Robert Williams III stands out as the most intriguing upside play because of what he can do protecting the rim, but his injury history makes every conversation about him a balancing act. For a Hawks roster trying to cover an obvious weakness without boxing itself in, the answer may come down to how much risk it is willing to absorb for a solution that could matter all season. [Read more 🡒]