The Memphis Grizzlies were among those involved in significant trades before the deadline hit on Thursday, including participating in an eight-player trade that sent Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz.
Utah also acquired Grizzlies center Jock Landale in that deal, but he was then traded to the Atlanta Hawks, making it technically his sixth team, even though he never suited up for the Jazz. However, he wanted to get a quick start playing for the Hawks and arranged his own travel.
According to Landale, he had already boarded a flight headed to Utah, as he’d thought he was a member of the Jazz. That changed, and thankfully, he was able to get off that flight so he could head to Atlanta and join his new team.
"It was good. I was actually sitting on a plane waiting to go to Utah, and I got the call saying, ‘Get off the damn plane,'" he explained during postgame remarks.
"The option was to fly in this morning or drive last night. I thought I'd come here, get a good night’s sleep, get up, and see the boys work out this morning."
"I'm just glad to be here. Glad to be here playing some basketball," he said regarding his newest team.
It's been a busy NBA career for the Australian basketball player, who first joined the San Antonio Spurs in 2021, then moved to the Phoenix Suns in 2022, and the Houston Rockets in 2023. After several seasons with the Rockets, he signed with the Grizzlies last July.
The 6-foot-11 big man brings averages of 11.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists to a rebuilding Hawks team. Atlanta made several other moves, including trading Trae Young to the Washington Wizards, Luke Kennard to the Los Angeles Lakers, and Kristaps Porzingis to the Golden State Warriors, before Thursday’s deadline.
Landale’s first game with the Hawks may have presented a glimpse of what’s to come with Landale on Atlanta’s roster. He finished the game with 26 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, and four blocks for a stellar debut party in the ATL.
Newsweek