Phoenix Suns trade for Atlanta Hawks center Jock Landale

The Phoenix Suns are trading for Atlanta Hawks center Jock Landale, the team announced Wednesday.

Atlanta received money in the deal, per The Athletic‘s Chris Kirschner.

Landale, who will turn 27 years old in October, marks the third offseason acquisition for the Suns after agreeing to a one-year deal with wing Damion Lee and re-signing center Bismack Biyombo.

He also becomes Phoenix’s third center on the roster behind Dario Saric and Biyombo, with last year’s backup JaVale McGee reportedly agreeing to a three-year deal with the Dallas Mavericks and the future unrestricted free agent Deandre Ayton still up in the air.

The 6-foot-11, 256-pound Landale went undrafted out of Saint Mary’s in 2018 before making his NBA debut with the San Antonio Spurs last season.

In his rookie campaign, the 26-year-old averaged 4.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 0.3 blocks in 10.9 minutes per game across 54 appearances (one start).

Landale also shot 49.5% from the field, 32.6% from three-point range and 82.9% from the free throw line in that span.

On June 30, the Australian was traded with Dejounte Murray to the Hawks for Danilo Gallinari and multiple future first-round picks.

Prior to signing with the Spurs in August 2021, Landale played for Atlanta in the 2018 NBA Summer League and then joined Partizan in Serbia until 2019.

He played for Zalgiris Kaunas in Lithuania in 2019-20 and the Milwaukee Bucks’ Summer League team in 2019 before signing with Melbourne United in Australia from 2020-21.

Landale also won the bronze medal with Australia at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and spent time with San Antonio’s G-League affiliate, the Austin Spurs, in 2021.

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