NBA Talking Points: Landale’s trade bonus worth millions, Lakers have few Westbrook options, Dyson dazzles

A couple of off-season trades in which he was barely a blip on the NBA radar could end up earning Jock Landale tens of millions of dollars.

The Boomers big man is in line for an almighty pay day if he continues his strong start to the season at his new team Phoenix.

He had his most impressive performance for the new season in the Suns’ victory over none other than the champion Golden State Warriors during the week, tallying 17 points, 12 rebounds and a couple of blocks and was a +27 during his 22 minutes on the floor. 

All on his 27th birthday too.

Working nicely with future Hall of Famer Chris Paul in the pick and roll, Landale looks like the latest big man to benefit from playing alongside the veteran point guard. 

Averaging 11.2 points and 6.2 rebounds in 19 minutes per game over the first five matches of the season, Landale is more than filling his role as Deandre Ayton’s back-up centre for the Western Conference contenders. 

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With Ayton likely to be traded mid-season after an ongoing feud with coach Monty Williams and Suns management, it’s not inconceivable that Landale could be elevated to the starting role sooner rather then later.

A free agent at the end of this season, he’s in line for a massive pay rise from the two-year $4.5 million deal he signed with San Antonio to get his start in the NBA after winning the NBL championship with Melbourne United in 2021.

Landale looks like following a similar path to Joe Ingles, who did his time in Europe before getting a bargain basement NBA deal which he converted into massive deals at the Jazz. 

He has the size to be a presence in the paint as well as the outside shooting chops to fit the modern prototype of the NBA centre. 

Landale’s connected with just four of his 16 three-point attempts at the Suns but the more comfortable he feels in the system and with Paul setting him up, expect that percentage to rise significantly over the course of the season.

Following a promising rookie season at the Spurs when he averaged 4.9 points and 2.6 boards after getting 10.9 minutes per game in 54 outings, he was a throw-in for the Dejounte Murray trade in July which sent the All-Star point guard to Atlanta.

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Landale would have been stuck behind Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu if he had been retained by the Hawks but luckily for him, the Suns needed a back-up big following JaVale McGee’s switch to Dallas.

Atlanta sent him to Phoenix in return for good old “cash considerations” and it’s turned out to be the perfect landing spot for Landale. 

He’s come a long way already for a player who didn’t take up basketball until his mid teens before then heading to Australia’s US college finishing school of choice, St Mary’s, where Patty Mills and Matthew Dellavedova are on the honour roll.

Lakers can’t win with Westbrook

Former MVP Russell Westbrook’s time at the Lakers can’t end quickly enough with the team off to a woeful 0-4 start and LeBron James clearly fed up with his underperforming ball hog of a teammate.

His open disdain when Westbrook bricked a shot playing heroball early in the shot clock as the Lakers coughed up a lead in the last minute against Portland will be memed in perpetuity.

But the Lakers are in a no-win situation. Admittedly, they dug this hole for themselves when they acquired Westbrook and his huge contract which is now in its final year.

Getting off his deal will require at least one first-round pick and probably a second to get a decent haul in return.

There was a deal with Indiana on the table in the off-seaosn for Buddy Hield and Myles Turner which would at least give LA much-needed shooting and a true centre to take the load off Anthony Davis in the paint.

But it wouldn’t be enough to get this roster to the title as LeBron’s final seasons fade into nothingness, similar to Kobe Bryant’s last couple of years with the Lakers. 

The problem is the only tanking teams with the cap space to take on Westbrook’s deal want both LA’s future firsts in 2027 and ‘29, but don’t have any blue-chip talent they’d send back that could get LeBron and co anywhere near the Larry O’Brien trophy. 

It looks all but certain that LeBron won’t be adding to his four championship rings unless the soon-to-be 38-year-old heads elsewhere. 

Cleveland have a young roster that’s building nicely now that they’ve added Donovan Mitchell alongside Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley and Darius Garland. 

LeBron might just have to dust off the old “I’m Coming Home” letter again for a third stint with the Cavaliers. 

Dyson shows he belongs

Despite being the No.8 selection in the draft, young Aussie guard Dyson Daniels will have to work hard to get minutes at New Orleans with a stacked backcourt led by CJ McCollum. 

With defensive stopper Herb Jones sidelined on Wednesday, Daniels got his chance to play meaningful minutes and did not disappoint against Dallas even when he was given the daunting task of guarding Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic.

One of the hardest players to guard in the league due to his size, shooting range and ability to draw fouls, Doncic was hampered by Daniels’ length and quick footwork.

He also showed his offensive prowess with a couple of sharp cuts to the hoop, a three-pointer and a couple of clever assists. 

It won’t be long before he cuts into the minutes of fellow guards Jose Alvarado and Devonte’ Graham in the Pelicans’ rotation. 

Dyson Daniels steals the ball from Luka Doncic. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Knicks not nothing

There were concerns when New York outlaid massive coin for Jalen Brunson in the off-season even though he’s not an All-Star.

But the talented former Dallas guard has been a revelation for them as they’ve got off to a 3-1 start and could be threatening the All-Star conversation in the East if he gets the Knicks into playoff contention.

He was three boards shy of a triple double in Thursday’s win over Charlotte with 27 points, seven rebounds and 13 assists, finally giving the Knicks the floor general they’ve craved for years.

Sixers struggling 

For all the talk, Philadelphia are not walking the walk. Joel Embiid looks sluggish and although James Harden has lost weight to be in much better shape, he’s settling for jumpers without being effective.

Their 1-4 start is a big concern, particularly for coach Doc Rivers who could be on the hot seat very soon if the Eastern Conference heavyweights keep getting knocked down by teams like San Antonio. 

The fact that their only win has come via a home game against the tanking Pacers says it all.

Jazz not meant to be hitting high notes 

Will Hardy could become the first NBA coach to be sacked for being too successful.

The rookie coach has led Utah to a red-hot 4-1 start to the season, including wins over playoff contenders Denver and New Orleans. 

That’s all well and good but the Jazz are supposed to be tanking. Danny Ainge sent out Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell in the off-season to get a bunch of draft picks and role players in return.

But Hardy, acquired in the off-season from the Boston coaching bench before it was turned upside down by Ime Udoka’s indiscretions, has got the Jazz journeymen firing on all cylinders.

It actually does help Utah in that they can now get better mid-season returns when they trade rejuvenated veterans like Mike Conely, Jordan Clarkson, Kelly Olynyk and Lauri Markinnen for even more draft capital as they try to increase their likelihood of drafting franchise-changing prospects Victor Wembanyama or Scoot Henderson.