NBA Free Agency: Jock Landale signs with Houston Rockets, Jack White joins OKC, Patty Mills
Former Melbourne United NBL stars Jock Landale and Jack White have both secured bumper contracts, fellow Aussie Dante Exum is on his way back to the big league and Boomers’ godfather Patty Mills is in the trade winds on a banner day for Aussies in the NBA.
On Sunday, big man Landale, 27, landed a four-year US$32 million deal with the Houston Rockets, while athletic forward White, 25, joins rising Aussie star Josh Giddey in Oklahoma City on a two-year contract, both brokered by Melbourne-born mutual agent Sammy Wloszczowski, of Sports International Group.
Landale, a former NBL Grand Final MVP, is betting on himself with only the initial of his four years in Houston guaranteed, following a whirlwind process that involved Phoenix first tendering a qualifying offer ahead of free agency, then abruptly removing it as salary cap issues loomed. He will make US$8 million next season and back his play to lock in the ensuing years.
“A super outcome for our Aussie free agents off the back of two incredible, unique journeys,” Wloszczowski told Code Sports.
“Jock’s been able to be financially rewarded for an exceptional tenure with the Suns and Jack has earned a well-deserved opportunity at a roster spot.”
Exum, 27, gets another go in Dallas on a one-year guaranteed deal for the veterans minimum, around US$2.9 million.
Dante Exum has spent the past two years rejuvenating his career in Europe, helping lead Serbian Club Partizan Belgrade to its first ABA title in a decade and joins another Aussie in young guard Josh Green at the Mavericks. The former NBA No.5 draft pick was in the headlines last month after he was the victim of a dastardly body slam by former Boston Celtic Guerschon Yabusele during EuroLeague play and recently learned he was to become a father.
Mills is set to join Memphis with the Brooklyn Nets working through a trade that sends Dillon Brooks to the Rockets. It remains to be seen if Houston, which also landed marquee free agents Fred Van Vleet and Dillon Brooks, keep him on the roster, or use his US$6.8 million expiring contract in further trades.
Another Boomers veteran in Joe Ingles also locked in his future over the weekend, the 32-year-old joining the Orlando Magic on a two-year, US$22 million agreement.
White’s road to the NBA was complicated by a senior college season at Duke that was cut short by the pandemic and then a shocking Achilles rupture toward the end of his rookie season that left him with an arduous rehabilitation process.
But his form on returning for United in NBL22 caught the eye of the Nuggets, who signed him to a two-way deal for last season.
He became an NBA champion last month when Denver stomped Miami 4-1 and
Wloszczowski was there to celebrate with the Traralgon-born athletic beast, who split time last season with the Nuggets and their G League affiliate Grand Rapids.
“For me, an Aussie winning an NBA title is the pinnacle of what I do, it’s as good as it gets,” Wloszczowski said.
“It was pretty emotional after the game, because of the hardships he’s endured.
“He undersells how inspiring his journey is but after game five I shared with him that what he’s accomplished in his first three years as a professional is as inspiring as any player I’ve ever worked with.
“There was a lot of mutual appreciation between us, but the achievement is all his, I’m just fortunate he let me play a small part in Team Jack.”
NBA futures sorted, the Aussie contingent will now focus on the Boomers’ World Cup campaign, where they are among 18 players who will battle it out for 12 spots on the team. Landale is a walk up as the country’s starting centre, while White’s ability to play multiple positions and his reputation as the ultimate culture guy puts him firmly in the running to beat out a host of other hopeful three-fours. Boomers coach Brian Goorjian has publicly exuded Exum’s importance to the team, while Mills’ reputation is sealed as perhaps our greatest international player.
Michael RandallBasketball journalist
Michael Randall is a basketball reporter for the Herald Sun and CODE Sports, covering the NBL, WNBL, NBA and Australian senior and junior international and representative teams.
