The Rockets are waiving center Jock Landale according to a report from Shams Charania of ESPN.com. The Houston center was set to make $8 million next season, but his contract was non-guaranteed until July 7. With his release, Landale will become an unrestricted free agent upon clear waivers. Kelly Iko of the Athletic reports a number of teams have expressed interest in the big man ahead of him hitting the open market.
Landale signed a four-year $32 million deal with the Rockets back in 2023 but only the first season on the lengthy pact was unguaranteed. He finishes his stint in Houston with just two years and was clearly not a part of the Rockets’ plans this offseason when they re-signed Steven Adams and agreed to sign Clint Capela to back up Alperen Sengun. Landale averaged 4.8 points and 3.3 rebounds in 11.9 minutes per game last season.
Landale will also certainly look for a bigger role in his next destination, which makes Boston a potential option if Brad Stevens ends up being intrigued by the big man. The Celtics frontcourt is very undermanned right now after the departures of Kristaps Porzingis and Luke Kornet with an expected exit by Al Horford also looming. Boston did agree to sign Luka Garza on the first day of free agency and he joins Neemias Queta and Xavier Tillman as the Celtics only true bigs under contract.
Boston’s moves this offseason have trended younger overall with low-cost additions like Garza (26) and Josh Minott (22) thus far. Whether a 29-year-old Landale would be a player Boston wants to invest playing opportunities in is another question, but he’s certainly a possibility given the lack of options on the center market that Boston can afford in free agency. The top remaining center available beside Horford is Moritz Wagner and he’s likely to re-sign in Orlando per multiple reports.
Boston’s roster currently sits at 15 players four days into NBA free agency. The team is likely not done tweaking with trades or signs with multiple non-guaranteed deals on the roster and Boston’s payroll above the second apron for now. Here’s a look at the depth chart as it currently stands with more moves to come.
Celtics 2025-26 depth chart on July 3
Guards (4): White, Pritchard, Simons, Davison (non-guaranteed)
Forwards (8): Brown, Hauser, Niang, Scheuermann, Walsh (non-guaranteed), Minott, Gonzalez, Tatum (injured)
Bigs (3): Queta, Tillman, Garza
Two-ways (3): Miles Norris, Max Shulga, Amari Williams
Free agents: Al Horford, Torrey Craig
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