Rockets to sign Jock Landale to four-year deal

The Rockets have agreed to sign free agent center Jock Landale, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link). Landale was originally tendered a qualifying offer by the Suns, but they withdrew it, making him an unrestricted free agent.

Landale’s new deal will be worth $32M over four years, according to Charania. However, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN clarifies (via Twitter) that only the first season will be fully guaranteed. It will be non-guaranteed in Years 2 and 3, with a fourth-year team option, tweets Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

Landale, 27, had a solid season in Phoenix in 2022-23 as a reserve behind starting center Deandre Ayton, averaging 6.6 points and 4.1 rebounds in 14.2 minutes per game across 69 appearances. He also played well in the Suns’ second-round series loss to Denver, including scoring 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting in the Game 6 loss that ended the team’s season.

Barring a sign-and-trade, it looks like Landale will be signed into the Rockets’ cap room. Although the room exception is worth $7.7M+ this season, it can only be used to sign contracts up to three years.