Will Rockets Trade Jock Landale This Offseason?

The Houston Rockets could look to trade Jock Landale after just one year with the team.

Jeremy Brener | May 2, 2024

Apr 14, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Houston Rockets center Jock Landale (2) gets the / Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The Houston Rockets will look to make upgrades this offseason after finishing outside of the playoff picture with a 41-41 record.

While the team is happy with the core they have in place, there are still adjustments to be made. Among the possible players who could be dealt is backup center Jock Landale.

"Landale has one of the more unique contracts in all of basketball, and he's owed $8 million in each of the next three seasons but with all three years being non-guaranteed," Bleacher Report writes. "Houston could use his $8 million salary in a trade this offseason, with the team acquiring the 28-year-old then having the option to keep paying him this money or opt for the cap space instead."

The Rockets added Steven Adams at the trade deadline, which could make Landale's spot on the team obsolete. Landale's unique contract is for four years, but only the money in the first season was guaranteed, meaning the Rockets have plenty of reason to part ways with him.

At the beginning of the season, Landale struggled. However, he showcased his value towards the end of the season when Alperen Sengun was injured, proving that he can be a positive asset.

Landale's late-season surge makes things tricky. He certainly can bring something to the table, but it's possible that he may have more value in a trade than his on-court production.

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Published May 2, 2024

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.