The Rockets will waive center Jock Landale before his $8MM salary for the 2025/26 season becomes guaranteed, according to Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
Charania adds that Landale will sign with his “preferred destination” after clearing waivers, while Kelly Iko of The Athletic says (via Twitter) a number of teams have expressed interest in him.
Landale was signed by Houston in 2023 to a four-year, $32MM contract that included just one fully guaranteed season. However, the Rockets – who were operating well below the luxury tax line, hung on him for the second year of the deal in 2024/25, even though he played a limited role for the team behind Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams in the frontcourt.
The 29-year-old averaged 4.8 points and 3.3 rebounds in 11.9 minutes per game across 42 outings (three starts) this past season.
With Sengun and Adams returning and Clint Capela joining the frontcourt mix, there was no place in the rotation going forward for Landale, and his $8MM annual salary is no longer palatable for the Rockets to carry with the roster getting more expensive. His release had been expected, even after he and the team reached an agreement over the weekend to push his salary guarantee date back to July 7.
Like all free agents, going to the Lakers
They just added Ayton, so it’s not clear that he would be added too. Outside of LA being the closest physically to his native Australia, it really doesn’t matter that much when you’re talking about a full day flight.
@ phenom….Melbourne and Canberra are nothing like L.A.
All the free agents lol ..they got a former number 1 pick bust who’s been ran out of 2 different cities..and laravia who’s not that great .. nobody but trash players wanna go to the lakers
He could steal some minutes in Philly…I’d be ok with that at this stage
He’ll improve someone’s bench
Apparently Whitmore may be the next to go to get Houston under the apron even after waiving Landale. They’ll probably want a future first rounder. No one has more future draft picks than the Nets do, so that could be a possibility. Also, it could keep alive the possibility of the Nets having two Cams after all.
Warriors !!!!!!!!
With what money Al ?
Pacers and Celtics do really need bigs. Lakers could use him as a back-up as well. Denver could get him if they are confident Valanciunas will leave the NBA.
I’m gonna bet the warriors for this dude
The salary cap matters. He’s only 29 so he’s not going to do an end of career ring chasing minimum contract.
Got Brad Stevens team friendly in favour of longer deal written all over it. If International Landale ever turns up in the NBA he’d be a rotation piece for sure.
This guy would be a nice fit on the Warriors, but they can’t afford an 8 million dollar center.
I’m not sure who has that kind of room available, but this guy is a decent player and should easily get that.