Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images

Rockets Release NBA Veteran Days After Kevin Durant Trade

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Rowan Fisher-Shotton | Last updated Jul 3, 2025 4:59 PM ET

Following a promising but ultimately short-lived 2024-25 season, one in which the Houston Rockets lost in the first round of the NBA playoffs, their front office pivoted decisively toward a win‑now mindset.

On June 22, the Rockets agreed in principle to acquire two‑time Finals MVP Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns.

That transaction, encompassing stars, draft picks and salary-matching deals, could balloon into a record-setting seven-team swap, per Fred Katz of The Athletic, involving franchises such as the Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Atlanta Hawks and Minnesota Timberwolves.

League rules mandate official sign‑off after the July moratorium, with final paperwork expected on July 6.

Parallel to the Durant deal, Houston re‑signed Fred VanVleet and veteran Steven Adams on team‑friendly terms, then used creative cap management to bring back former Rocket Clint Capela on a three‑year, $21.5 million contract.

On Thursday, the Rockets made another roster move by waiving veteran center Jock Landale.

The Houston Rockets are waiving veteran center Jock Landale, source told @TheAthletic. A handful of teams have expressed interest upon clearing waivers.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) July 3, 2025

Undrafted in the 2018 NBA draft coming out of Saint Mary's, Landale took his talents overseas, winning the Lithuanian League championship and Cup in 2020, then capturing the NBL championship and Grand Final MVP honors with Australia’s Melbourne United in 2021.

His international resume includes a bronze medal with the Australian Boomers at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the nation’s first Olympic basketball medal.

Landale signed his first NBA contract with the San Antonio Spurs for the 2021-22 season, followed by stints with the Phoenix Suns and then Houston beginning in 2023.

Over four NBA seasons, he compiled career averages of 5.4 points and 3.3 rebounds on 51.8% shooting in 12.8 minutes per game.

Despite flashes of efficiency and his team‑first approach, Houston’s aggressive offseason agenda left little room for Landale.

The move comes ahead of Landale’s non‑guarantee date of July 7, when his $8 million salary for the 2025-26 season would have fully vested.

By cutting Landale, the Rockets cleared critical room under the NBA’s first apron hard cap, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks, set at approximately $195.945 million, allowing them to complete sign‑and‑trade deals for Dorian Finney‑Smith and a reunion with Clint Capela without breaching league financial thresholds.

With the Rockets poised to finalize Durant on July 6 and already committed to multi‑year deals for Finney‑Smith and Capela, Landale’s non‑guaranteed salary became a cap casualty.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: