The Indiana Pacers waived Tony Bradley on Jan. 5, but on Thursday, they announced that they have re-signed him to a 10-day contract.
Indiana waived Bradley so that his contract wouldn't become guaranteed on Jan. 10. Additionally, the team was getting some good performances out of Micah Potter, which likely made their decision that much easier. This was especially true given that Bradley mostly just became a depth option, averaging 7.8 minutes in his last 11 games, even with Isaiah Jackson missing time due to a concussion.
Regardless, it's clear that the Pacers wanted to keep the Florida native around even after waiving him. They just didn't want him on a guaranteed contract.
Given their current center situation, it's easy to see why the Pacers made this choice. Jay Huff and Potter have mostly been solid, but the jury is still out on how much they can trust either of them for the rest of the season. Additionally, Jackson remains out due to a concussion, and the Pacers still need as much center depth as they can.
Not much is likely to change for Bradley now that he's on a 10-day contract. He's still mostly there for depth, and it's hard to imagine that the Pacers will bring him back once Jackson is cleared. However, he is familiar with the system, and if the team is willing to re-sign him, it's clear that they trust him to play his role.
What's next for the Pacers' center situation?
Re-signing Bradley isn't going to change a thing for the Pacers. They still need to add another center, potentially ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline.
So far, they have been linked to five big men: Ivica Zubac, Daniel Gafford, Walker Kessler, Yves Missi, and Nic Claxton. All five of them would be upgrades at center, but whether they are realistic trade candidates for Indiana remains to be seen.
This season has been a nightmare for the Pacers, but they still have a bright future nonetheless. Tyrese Haliburton and Obi Toppin will return eventually, and they are likely going to get a high pick in this year's draft. And, given that they're in a wide-open Eastern Conference, they may be able to re-enter the title picture as soon as next season.
But in order for them to be legitimate title contenders again, they will need to add a new starting center, no matter what it takes.