Tag: Jock Landale

Rafael Stone is supportive of 2023-24 Rockets playing internationally

“We’re encouraging those guys not just to play, but to play great, and come back as better players,” Rafael Stone says of #Rockets players competing in international play this offseason.

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In the 2023 NBA offseason, the Houston Rockets have had four players competing in at least some capacity for the national basketball team of their respective country. Those players are guard Jalen Green (United States), forward Dillon Brooks (Canada) and centers Alperen Sengun (Turkey) and Jock Landale (Australia).

All are 27 years old or younger, and three of them (all but Brooks) are entering their third season in the NBA.

In some scenarios, extensive international duty can concern teams that are afraid of potential injuries suffered outside the scope of their NBA contracts. In an extreme case, think Paul George from his 2014 Team USA duty.

But for a young team like these Rockets, the upside of extra experience likely trumps the downside. Though the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement doesn’t allow teams to have any say in whether their players take part in international competitions, Rockets general manager Rafael Stone appears to be supportive.

“If we were in a position to have more control, it would be a very player-by-player thing,” Stone told Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. “This summer, I’m really happy for our guys. They’re at points in their careers the additional reps are very valuable.”

“I can see where teams have concerns,” Stone said. “In our case this summer, we’re comfortable, and we’re encouraging those guys not just to play but to play great and come back as better players.”

Green’s U.S. Select Team stint is already over, though Brooks, Landale and Sengun still have multiple weeks of competition left. The current international window will conclude several weeks before the NBA opens 2023-24 training camps in early October.

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Updated 2023-2024 Houston Rockets roster, salaries after free agency

After an extremely busy 2023 free agency, here’s an updated look at the #Rockets roster and salaries entering the 2023-24 NBA season.

When we last saw the Houston Rockets play a regular-season game in April, they were one of the NBA’s youngest teams and directed by a relatively unproven head coach in Stephen Silas.

The situation has changed significantly in the months since. Ime Udoka replaced Silas as head coach and brought in his own staff of assistants, while general manager Rafael Stone spent more than $60 million in 2023 free agency to sign veteran players Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, Jeff Green and Jock Landale.

Those veterans will surround Houston’s young core of Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Kevin Porter Jr., Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason and newly drafted 2023 rookies Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore.

As of early August, here’s an updated look at where things stand with the Rockets’ coaching staff and roster of players entering the 2023-24 NBA season. Many of the team’s newcomers will not have their jersey numbers revealed until closer to training camp, which is scheduled to start in early October.

Height and weight information is from NBA.com, while salary details are from HoopsHype figures. Ages are as of Aug. 1, 2023.

Rockets officially announce deals with Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, Jock Landale, Jeff Green

Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, Jock Landale, and Jeff Green are all officially Rockets. Here’s how the team announced each of its July 2023 transactions to date.

As part of a complex web of transactions, the Houston Rockets officially announced the additions of four players as part of their activities in the opening two days of the NBA’s 2023 free agency.

The Rockets had a league-leading figure of approximately $60 million in financial room beneath the salary cap heading into free agency. However, they created even more room with a series of controversial trades sending out salaries and future second-round draft assets, which may have been made with the signing Milwaukee big man Brook Lopez (who ultimately rejected the Rockets) in mind.

As it turned out, general manager Rafael Stone and the Rockets ended up adding big men Jock Landale and Jeff Green on top of the marquee deals with Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks.

None of the deals could be announced until Thursday, which is when the league’s temporary moratorium on transactions for its 2023-24 league year was lifted. Shortly after the moratorium ended, the league began processing signings and trades from all teams, and ultimately the Rockets had their deals approved, as expected.

Scroll on for each official announcement, from the team.

Rockets gain tradable salary for future with uniquely structured Jock Landale, Jeff Green contracts

With no guaranteed money owed after next season, the uniquely structured multi-year contracts given to Jock Landale and Jeff Green could help the #Rockets in future trades.

The Houston Rockets didn’t accomplish all of their goals entering 2023 free agency. They did land two of their three marquee veteran targets in Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks, but the third — Milwaukee big man Brook Lopez — clearly slipped away late.

When that happened, the Rockets and general manager Rafael Stone could have still used that salary slot by simply turning to another established veteran at center. But instead, with Houston still in something of a rebuilding phase, the team appears to have pivoted to a backup plan involving contract optionality.

Sure, Jock Landale showed flashes with the Phoenix Suns last season, and Jeff Green was a rotation player for a Denver squad that just won the 2023 NBA championship. Depending on the matchup, they could mix and match those two in minutes fairly similar to what Lopez would have received as a complement to Alperen Sengun.

But judging by their contracts, their largest value could be as salary matching tools in the future. Landale technically signed for four seasons and Green for two, but neither is owed any guaranteed money after the first season. That means Houston could trade them leading up to the 2024 trade deadline next February or early in the 2024 offseason, and the team acquiring them would be on the hook for minimal-to-no salary —  should they simply prefer cap space.

Unlike a normal trade exception, which can’t be aggregated with players to help the team bring in a larger salary, Landale and/or Green (who will each make close to $8 million, annually) could be combined in future trades with a player on a short-term contract — such as Kevin Porter Jr. or Jae’Sean Tate. That could allow the Rockets to meet the league’s salary matching rules for trades involving teams who are above the annual salary cap.

Even so, it’s obviously speculative. For the 2023-24 season, the Rockets clearly preferred to add Lopez and improve their short-term roster. That plan failed. But in the long run, the path they chose to pivot to as a backup plan could present more options down the line.

Here’s a look at some of the key takeaways and implications.

Jock Landale ready ‘to do the dirty work’ for Ime Udoka, Rockets

“I’ve found a role that really fits into a mold that any team needs,” new #Rockets center Jock Landale tells ESPN. “Playing between the gaps, doing all the dirty work; every team needs that.”

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Third-year prospect Alperen Sengun projects to be the starting center for the Houston Rockets in the 2023-24 season, and his diverse offensive game makes him a fascinating talent.

But the Rockets prioritized finding a defensive big to complement Sengun this offseason. After being turned down at the last moment by Milwaukee’s Brook Lopez, they transitioned to Jock Landale of the Phoenix Suns, and he’s ready to embrace the opportunity.

Landale, who averaged 6.6 points (52.8% FG) and 4.1 rebounds in 14.2 minutes last season, is on a four-year contract worth $32 million, though only the first season is guaranteed.

But the 6-foot-11 Australia native tells ESPN’s Olgun Uluc that such a delicate contractual status plays to his character, adding the deal provides “no ability for me to take my foot off the gas.”

“When I spoke to Ime (Udoka), he said you’ve got to come in and earn it, just like everyone else,” the 27-year-old told Uluc. “I think that’s a healthy style of competition.”

Ultimately, Landale says he’s ready to do the dirty work for the Rockets, which could offer the type of stylistic contrast with Sengun that Houston had reportedly sought. Among his comments:

I believe I’ve found a role that really fits into a mold that any team needs. Playing between the gaps, doing all the dirty work; every team needs that. You look at Dillon Brooks, for example. That’s the certified player that he is. He’s someone that comes in and does the dirty work every night and gets the job done at a high level. … Toward the end of the season, I realized that the easiest way for me to do what I’ve done and produce at the level that I’ve produced is to do the dirty work and play off other peoples’ creation, and not really try and force anything.

That’ll be the message I try to impart on everyone is: every team needs a guy willing to sacrifice their own numbers and bodies and all of that, to go out there and help the superstars get loose and make their lives easier. That’s where I’m really handy, and figured that out with (Kevin Durant) and (Devin Booker), is they needed someone who was willing to do the dirty work for them. That’s the role I see myself sticking in for a long time, and I’m completely happy with that. I love it.

Landale goes on to refer to the Rockets as having an “amazing crop of young talent” with “arguably one of the best coaches in the NBA,” adding that he expects Houston to be in 2023-24 playoff contention while potentially playing in play-in tournament games.

ESPN’s complete interview with Landale, who is entering his third NBA season this fall, can be read here.

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Rockets sign Jock Landale and trade for Patty Mills, who will be rerouted

After reaching deals with Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks, Houston’s busy free agency continued by trading for Patty Mills (who isn’t staying) and signing big man Jock Landale (who is staying).

After previously reaching deals with Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks, Houston’s busy start to 2023 free agency continued with a trade for veteran Brooklyn guard Patty Mills and the signing of third-year big man Jock Landale, mostly recently of Phoenix.

The trade for Mills, who is well regarded for his perimeter shooting and leadership, was first reported by The Athletic. Now 34 years old, the 6-foot-1 guard has averaged 9.0 points (38.9% on 3-pointers) in 20.4 minutes per game over 14 NBA seasons.

Several of those seasons were spent alongside Ime Udoka, who was an assistant for seven years with the Spurs. Both Udoka and Mills were part of San Antonio’s 2014 championship team.

Mills is owed $6.8 million next season, and he is an expiring contract. However, per Kelly Iko of The Athletic, Mills could ultimately be moved yet again as part of a complicated sign-and-trade involving the Memphis Grizzlies and newly acquired wing Dillon Brooks.

Houston will receive a second-round draft pick from the Nets for the initial Mills trade, per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle.

As for Landale, he averaged 6.6 points (52.8% FG) and 4.1 rebounds in 14.2 minutes per game last season. The 6-foot-11 big man, now 27 years old, played with the Spurs in 2021-22 before moving to the Suns for 2022-23. Landale could be part of Houston’s plans to provide a backup to Alperen Sengun with more defensive abilities.

The Rockets were hopeful of landing Brook Lopez from Milwaukee for that role, but he ultimately chose to return to the Bucks.

Here’s a look at immediate reaction to the two deals. Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Landale signed a four-year, $32-million contract with Houston, but only the first season is guaranteed.

NBA players react to Gregg Popovich becoming all-time winningest coach

Players from around the NBA weighed in on Popovich becoming the all-time winningest coach in NBA history.

On Friday, Gregg Popovich surpassed Don Nelson as the all-time winningest head coach in NBA history after the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Utah Jazz.

Popovich collected his 1,336th win with the Spurs to add yet another accomplishment to his legendary career that has spanned 26 seasons. He is the only coach in NBA history to spend 25-plus years with one franchise, and one of eight to do so in the four major U.S. sports.

The Spurs have claimed five championships under Popovich and the most consecutive winning seasons in history (22). Popovich has the second-highest win percentage (65.8) in NBA history, trailing only Phil Jackson (70.4). He has the fifth-highest percentage across all four major U.S. sports.

The news of the record-breaking victory by Popovich quickly spread across the league, with several players weighing in on the accomplishment on social media. The list of players included those that have played under Popovich, and those that admired the three-time Coach of the Year.

Spurs’ Jock Landale dazzled once again on assignment in G League

Landale is averaging 27 points on 80% shooting from the field over his first two games in the G League.

San Antonio Spurs rookie Jock Landale on Saturday produced a second straight performance with at least 20 points on assignment with the Austin Spurs in the NBA G League.

Landale finished with a game-high 28 points, six rebounds, four assists and one blocked shot in a 116-105 win over the Texas Legends. He went 10-of-13 from the field, including 2-of-3 from 3-point range, in nearly 38 minutes of work.

The performance came two nights after Landale scored 26 points in his debut with Austin. He is averaging 27 points, seven rebounds and 3.5 assists over his first two games in the G League on 80% shooting (22-of-27) from the field.

Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich said the team wanted to get Landale some playing time with minutes limited in San Antonio. He has totaled just 24 minutes across eight appearances with San Antonio after dealing with injuries and health and safety protocol.

Landale has certainly shown why the Spurs targeted him over the offseason with his two recent performances. He was recalled to San Antonio on Sunday and could see a larger role following his stint in Austin.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Gregg Popovich explained why Spurs assigned Jock Landale to G League

Landale on Thursday produced 26 points during his first appearance with the Austin Spurs in a win over the Texas Legends.

San Antonio Spurs rookie Jock Landale on Thursday produced 26 points during his first appearance with the Austin Spurs in the NBA G League during a win over the Texas Legends.

Landale, 26, finished the contest by shooting 12-of-14 from the field, including 2-of-2 from 3-point range, in 29 minutes of work. He also hauled in eight rebounds and dished out three assists on a game-high plus-27 on the court.

The Spurs assigned Landale to Austin prior to the contest in order to get him some reps with playing time limited in San Antonio. He has totaled just 24 minutes across eight appearances with San Antonio after dealing with injuries and health and safety protocols.

Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich explained the assignment for Landale.

Just experience. It’s his first run in the NBA. He hasn’t been able to play much all year. He had the concussion and then he had the procedure he had to through so he is really behind. The best thing he can do is just get some minutes and play.

Landale signed with the Spurs over the summer after a successful run in the National Basketball League last season with Melbourne United. He averaged 16.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 blocked shots as Melbourne claimed the NBL championship.

He previously spent four years at Saint Mary’s prior to turning pro. He was named the 2018 West Coast Conference Player of the Year after averaging 21.1 points and 10.2 rebounds as a senior. He was a consensus second-team All-American.

Landale certainly showed why the Spurs targeted him over the offseason with his performance on Thursday. He will likely continue to spend time with Austin to develop but appears to be a good candidate to eventually see a larger role in the NBA.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Spurs sign former NBL star Jock Landale to two-year contract

Landale averaged 16.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 blocked shots last season with Melbourne United in the NBL.

On Friday, the San Antonio Spurs announced that they signed Australian center Jock Landale to a contract following a strong campaign in the National Basketball League.

Landale averaged 16.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 blocked shots last season with Melbourne United. He was named the 2021 NBL Grand Final MVP after Melbourne swept the Perth Wildcats to win the championship.

The 25-year-old most recently helped Australia claim the bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics with a win over Slovenia. He averaged 12.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists for the Boomers as Australia won its first-ever Olympic medal in men’s basketball.

Shams Charania of The Athletic first reported the deal was for two years.

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Landale previously spent four years at Saint Mary’s prior to turning pro. He was named the 2018 West Coast Conference Player of the Year after averaging 21.1 points and 10.2 rebounds as a senior. He was also a consensus second-team All-American.

He also played in Serbia and Lithuania prior to signing in the NBL.

After some productive seasons overseas, Landale will now have the opportunity to showcase his skillset on the NBA stage. The Spurs have often found success in signing international players and Landale could be the next in line.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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