The Memphis Grizzlies traded Jay Huff to the Indiana Pacers for a 2029 second-round pick (via Portland) and a 2031 pick swap. Jay Huff proved to be a reliable bench option for the Grizzlies this past season, averaging 6.9 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game on solid shooting splits of 51.5/40.6/78.6. In response to the recent injuries of Jaren Jackson Jr. and Zach Edey, the Grizzlies felt the need to add another quality defensive presence to the frontcourt.
Just minutes after trading Jay Huff, the Grizzlies reached an agreement on a deal with Jock Landale. Landale appeared in 42 games last season with the Houston Rockets and proved to be a reliable defender and outside shooter in limited minutes. Despite being a bench player for most of his NBA career, this appears to be another piece of shrewd roster retooling by the Grizzlies.
Jock Landale has proven to reliable in a small sample size
Jock Landale only played 500 total regular season minutes last season, but his minutes were positive. He shot an impressive 42.3% from three and 55.6%from the field. In a league that is recently valuing quality shooting at the center position, Jock Landale is another reliable scorer both inside and outside the arc. However, his rebounding and defense will allow him to be a quality emergency option while Edey and Jackson Jr. continue to recover from injury.
Jock Landale was a solid rebounder this past season for the Rockets. He had a 17.6% defensive rebounding percentage and grabbed 11.7% of his teammate's missed shots. Landale has been a reliable rebounder his whole career and can improve Memphis' rebounding in a bench or emergency starter role. Landale is also a positive defensive presence, having recorded a 0.4 defensive BPM in his last two seasons. The Grizzlies needed to add another reliable rebounding and defensive center for a low cost and Jock Landale addresses these key areas of need.
Although Jay Huff proved to be a very solid offensive spark off the bench, it was clear that the Grizzlies were looking to add another quality defender and rebounder to the team. Jock Landale will provide an instant impact on both ends of the floor while being a low-cost option for the team.
Regardless of any future moves the Grizzlies make this offseason, this was logical roster construction within the margins. The Grizzlies still have the flexibility to add another high-level big while acquiring a quality depth piece in Jock Landale. In the short term, Jock Landale has the potential to go down as another one of the recent steals for the Memphis Grizzlies.