It’s easy to get ahead of the curve when you’re mapping out trade season, but for the Philadelphia 76ers, the smart move right now is patience. They’ve already had a busy offseason, landing Jaylen Brown in a blockbuster deal with the Boston Celtics and adding LeBron James on a bargain signing. That leaves them headed into the 2026-2027 season with an open roster spot and, at least for now, an open mind.
Still, the hunt for realistic trade targets never really stops. And if you’re looking at the Atlanta Hawks, one name that fits the bill is Jock Landale.
The reason he even makes sense is simple: the Sixers’ biggest question before training camp is at center. Behind Joel Embiid, there’s plenty of uncertainty with Adem Bona and Ariel Hukporti. Both young bigs have shown promise, but neither has done enough to convince anyone they’re dependable long-term backups.
That gives Bona and Hukporti a real chance to prove themselves, especially with the team’s financial situation. But if the 76ers reach the 2027 trade deadline and the center spot still feels shaky, they’ll be making calls. If Atlanta is willing to listen, Landale could be on the board in late January.
Landale’s 2025-2026 season started with the Memphis Grizzlies after his Houston Rockets stint. He played 45 games there and averaged 11.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists. After moving to Atlanta, he appeared in 23 games for the Hawks and logged 19.4 minutes per night off the bench, putting up 9.1 points and 4.1 rebounds while knocking down 39.1% of his threes.
Even with that production, the fit comes with a catch. This is a spot where the Sixers should still be thinking buy-low, and Landale doesn’t come cheap. He’s on a one-year deal worth $14.1 million, and that kind of number would likely mean sending out one of the team’s underrated pieces in Anfernee Simons, plus more.
There’s also the question of what else would have to be included. Would Labaron Philon Jr. look like a total bust, or has the Dominick Barlow experiment lost enough shine that the Sixers no longer value it the same way?
One of those two would have to be part of the package, and Atlanta would likely need a big man back in Ariel Hukporti. That’s a three-for-one deal for a center who is on his fifth team since 2021 and has only eight games of playoff experience.
So yes, Landale is a realistic name to keep in mind. But realistic doesn’t mean affordable, and it doesn’t mean the Sixers should rush into it. Philadelphia would need to be completely sold on moving off its current center group before taking that swing.
In Other News...
Sixers May Be Losing Another Young Piece To The Knicks
The Knicks have added forward Igor Milicic on an Exhibit 10 deal ahead of training camp, giving them another low-cost developmental flier to sort through before the season gets underway. For Sixers fans, the name is a familiar one: Milicic spent time with the Delaware Blue Coats, Philadelphias G League affiliate, and has spent the past few years bouncing through a college career that stretched across three universities.
Exhibit 10 contracts often function as a bridge into a teams developmental pipeline, and that is the lane New York is opening for Milicic now. It also fits the broader reality for Philadelphia, where the Blue Coats have repeatedly served as a staging ground for young talent that other organizations are willing to take a look at when camp season arrives. [Read more 🡒]
76ers Rookie Labaron Philon Already Faces One Tough Rotation Hurdle
Labaron Philon Jr. gave the 76ers enough to like in Summer League, especially on the scoring end, but the early read on the rookie guard is hardly a simple one. Philadelphia has reason to be intrigued by his offensive feel, yet his thin frame stands out in a way that matters for a team trying to compete now, where every rotation spot has to carry weight on both ends.
The cautious part of the evaluation comes from defense, where the coaching staff reportedly wants more proof that Philon can handle the physical demands of the regular season. In a setup like this, upside alone is not usually enough, and a young guard has to show he can stay on the floor without becoming a target. For Philon, the path is clear enough: add strength, tighten the defensive end, and make it harder for the staff to leave him out of the nightly mix. [Read more 🡒]
Sixers Final Roster Spot Could Fuel LeBrons Title Push
The 76ers have already reshaped their offseason in a major way, adding Jaylen Brown and bringing in LeBron James on a two-year deal, then further strengthening the rotation with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope after his buyout from Memphis. It is the kind of aggressive roster building that signals a clear push to contend right away, with the front office still showing a willingness to keep tinkering even after the headline moves are done.
Maxi Kleber has emerged as a possible candidate for Philadelphias final roster spot, and the fit is easy to see for a team trying to balance star power with usable depth. The decision on that last opening could matter more than it usually does, since the Sixers are not merely filling out the back end of the roster but shaping the supporting cast around a group built to chase a championship run. [Read more 🡒]