The Cleveland Cavaliers have agreed to a one-year deal with free agent center Thomas Bryant, according to his agents Mark Bartelstein and Zach Kurtin of Priority Sports who shared the news with ESPN’s Shams Charania on Tuesday.
Bryant was a key backup during the Indiana Pacers‘ impressive playoff run last season. The 6-foot-10 big man is heading into his ninth NBA season and will give the Cavs some much-needed depth in their frontcourt.
The 28-year-old split last season between the Miami Heat and Pacers, appearing in 66 games with eight starts. He put up solid numbers off the bench, averaging 6.5 points and 3.8 rebounds in just under 15 minutes per game.
He shot an efficient 50.8% from the floor and was excellent from the free-throw line at 85.9%.
Miami shipped Bryant to Indiana in December for a future second-round pick.
Bryant showed what he could do when given the opportunity. In a January home win against the Bulls, he exploded for a season-high 22 points, shooting 9-for-16 from the field including two three-pointers.
But it was during the playoffs where Bryant really made his mark.
After riding the bench for much of the Eastern Conference finals against New York, Bryant came up huge in the decisive Game 6. He scored 11 points and knocked down three 3-pointers in just 13 minutes, helping the Pacers reach their first NBA Finals since 2000.
Though Indiana ultimately fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games, Bryant’s timely contributions didn’t go unnoticed.
Championship Experience
This isn’t Bryant’s first time around winning teams. He already has a championship ring from his time with the Denver Nuggets during the 2022-23 season.
Throughout his career spanning the Los Angeles Lakers, Washington Wizards, Denver Nuggets, and Pacers, Bryant has averaged 8.9 points and 5.1 rebounds while shooting an impressive 58.2% from the field.
He’ll now join a talented Cavaliers frontcourt that features starters Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, along with backups Larry Nance Jr., Nae’Qwan Tomlin, and Dean Wade.
The Cavs’ roster continues to evolve, with young prospect Emoni Bates signing with the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday.
Bates, a second-round pick by Cleveland in 2023, spent most of his time with the Cavs’ G League affiliate. He made just 25 appearances for the main squad over two seasons, averaging 3.1 points in limited playing time.
