The Indiana Pacers exercised Tony Bradley's team option for next season, but it is looking like he may not suit up for the team again.
Bradley's contract is non-guaranteed. This, paired with the fact that the Pacers have three other centers on the roster, makes him an easy cut candidate. Furthermore, while he did not address it directly, head coach Rick Carlisle may have recently revealed that Bradley is not a candidate to be the team's starting center next season. This makes it even more likely that the former first-round pick will be gone by the start of next season (h/t Caitlin Cooper on YouTube).
"We'll see who starts at center. Isaiah Jackson is an underrated ball-handler and playmaker, so he's in the mix. Jay Huff is a skilled guy. Wiseman, we haven't seen enough of him really yet to know for sure how exactly he's gonna fit in," Carlisle said.
The Pacers signed Bradley last season, even though he had been gone from the NBA for over two years. Initially on a 10-day contract, Bradley worked his way to another contract and ultimately remains with the team for the rest of the season. He had some solid moments in the playoffs, even getting some legitimate playing time in the NBA Finals. There is a lot to like about him and his story. However, as it stands, it seems that his days in Indiana are numbered.
The Pacers have better options than Tony Bradley
With Myles Turner gone, the Pacers are tasked with replacing him. As it stands, the team is expected to run a center-by-committee and ride the hot hand during the season. Indiana's other three options--Isaiah Jackson, Jay Huff, and James Wiseman--all provide more value and have more potential than Bradley does. Plus, it would be incredibly difficult for the team to justify rostering four centers heading into next season.
The Pacers are in a tough spot now that their long-time big man is a member of the Milwaukee Bucks. Turner was far from a flawless center, but he was still a fantastic fit in Indiana. It will be incredibly difficult for the Pacers to find a one-for-one replacement for him, and it seems that they know that.
While not ideal, a committee at center may be Indiana's best move, at least for next season. Not only does Carlisle have experience with these situations, but next season is as good as any for Indiana to experiment a bit and see who sticks out. While they may not look at it the same way, next season is likely going to be a gap year for them. They can still compete, but their main priority will likely be to try out different things and audition different players to see what works for when Tyrese Haliburton returns from his injury.
Indiana is in a unique spot for next season, and plenty of players are expected to take on bigger roles. Unfortunately for Bradley, it seems that he is not going to be one of those guys.