What can Jock Landale do for the Phoenix Suns
Coming over from the San Antonio Spurs, Jock Landale is a prototypical big for the Suns system.
He carries all the confidence and abilities needed to both pop (especially versus drop coverage) and let it fly from above the break. He shot just 29.4 percent last year, but does not give off the vibes of a non-shooter.
Landale is also adept at operating in the “pockets” of a defense while teammates attack the basket and draw help, frequently making himself available for a dump off pass as he’s left momentarily unattended.
Offensively, Landale plays well as a short-roll playmaker, generally helping an offense as a connector with good vision. Whether it’s making the good to great pass, executing dribble hand-offs, or hitting the weak side with a pass as the tagger/lowman or x-man is mid-rotation, his overall feel for moving the ball is obvious.
Jock Landale is definitely a 0.5 guy. Not so much a playmaker like Dario Saric but keeps the ball moving and has a good feel for the extra pass. pic.twitter.com/VslvpTrJA1
— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) July 2, 2022
Not a bruiser by any stretch, but Landale doesn’t pass up a chance to throw his weight around against smaller opponents either. Coming from the Popovich system, he’s obviously understanding of the system in place in Phoenix.
The trade for Landale comes as just another fringe move for players capable of stepping up if and when need be, but help shore up the end of the rotation more than anything. The Suns are doing a very solid job in my estimation of tending to the roster in the now, while the heavyweight business is in the works.