The Indiana Pacers currently have four centers rostered, and by all measures, Tony Bradley seems like the obvious odd man out. Bradley signed with the Pacers back in April after over two years away from the NBA. Additionally, he played well in the playoffs and even had some big moments in the NBA Finals. However, the team will most likely cut him before the start of next season, even though it will be a hard decision.
There is a lot to like about Bradley. He proved his value as a rebounder, and his story is incredible. However, even though they need to replace Myles Turner, entering the regular season with four centers makes no sense.
Bradley's deal is non-guaranteed, making him a likely cut candidate as is. On top of that, he does not have as much potential or intrigue as the Pacers' other big man options.
A lot can happen between now and next season, but as it stands, the 27-year-old will likely be on a new team next season.
The Pacers have better big man options than Tony Bradley
In addition to Bradley, Indiana also has Isaiah Jackson, James Wiseman, and Jay Huff on the roster. As it stands, it seems that Jackson would be the favorite to be the Pacers' starting center to begin next season. He has the most experience with the team and is a solid fit, even if he does not have much of a jumper. This might not be ideal, but there is enough potential there for it to potentially work out.
Head coach Rick Carlisle has already confirmed that the Pacers will run a center-by-committee next season. This is something he did during his tenure with the Dallas Mavericks, and it could work again. However, even in this case, a lot needs to go Bradley's way for him to stick around.
The Pacers also have another intriguing option in Wiseman. Wiseman signed with the team last year and looked solid in preseason before suffering an Achilles injury in his Pacers debut. Indiana recently re-signed him, which was a low-risk, high-reward move for them.
Wiseman is a legitimate seven-footer and is incredibly athletic. Furthermore, he is still just 24 years old and has a lot of room to grow. And, though he still leaves a lot to be desired, the Nashville native can contribute on the boards, giving Bradley some serious competition.
Another player to monitor is Huff, who the Pacers acquired from the Memphis Grizzlies in response to Turner's departure. He will likely not make the same impact in Indiana, but Huff has a similar skillset to the Pacers' former big man. The 26-year-old can stretch the floor very well and provide some defensive value. There is not much of a sample size with him, but if all goes well, he could be a mainstay in Indiana.
The Pacers have a lot of questions regarding their center position. However, chances are that Bradley is not the answer to any of them. He proved last season that he deserves a full year with the Pacers, but it is going to be tough for him to beat out the other three big men.
Crazier things have happened in the NBA, but for right now, it is safe to assume that Bradley's time in Indiana is approaching its end.