On Saturday, the Indiana Pacers filled their final open roster spot by signing Tony Bradley to a 10-day contract.
Bradley, a 2017 first-round pick, previously played for the Utah Jazz, Philadelphia 76ers, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Chicago Bulls in the NBA. Most recently, Bradley spent time with the Atlanta Hawks’ G League affiliate, the College Park Skyhawks.
The Pacers sign Tony Bradley to a 10-day contract
While the Bradley signing will not turn heads for Pacers fans, it is still an interesting pickup regardless. After Jahlil Okafor’s 10-day contract with the Pacers ran out, many expected that the team would bring in another center to fill that void, which is exactly what they did.
Like Okafor, it is unlikely that Bradley will get much playing time for the Pacers. He is their third-string center and is not guaranteed to be on the team within the next couple of weeks. Still, there is some upside to this move.
At 6’11”, Bradley possesses good size and is tied with Myles Turner as the tallest player on the roster. Unfortunately, Bradley does not offer anything special to the team beyond his size. He is a decent rim protector, but his defense overall is not much to brag about. The Florida native also has limited range and is not a perimeter threat. However, he is physical and can finish around the rim.
This signing is relatively minor in the grand scheme of things. Still, Bradley’s role with the team is still something to monitor. He is a solid rebounder and could provide value in that area for the Pacers, who rank as one of the worst rebounding teams in the NBA. After it was previously revealed that Okafor’s “specific role” with the Pacers was to be a big body and just rebound, it is clear that the team is looking to address what is arguably their biggest flaw.
Bradley could make his Pacers debut as soon as Sunday, when they will take on the Bulls. It is unclear how much playing time he could get right away, but it is fair to assume he will have at least a small opportunity to showcase his value.
As for the Pacers as a whole, they are hoping to get back in the win column after their tough loss to the Miami Heat on Friday night. Whether Bradley will be a part of their game plan, however, remains to be seen.
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