After half a season with the Indiana Pacers, it looks like Thomas Bryant may be out of the league next season as he is reportedly nearing a deal with Panathinaikos of the EuroLeague and the Greek Basket League (Kevin Martorano of Sportando).
While it is not much of a surprise that Bryant's time in Indiana has likely come to an end, it is a bit shocking that he will seemingly have to take his talents overseas. Though he was far from a perfect player, the New York native came up big multiple times for the Pacers throughout his run with the team. Most notably, he stepped up during Indiana's series-clinching Game 6 victory against the New York Knicks in the conference finals. In the win, Bryant recorded 11 points on 3-for-5 shooting in 13 minutes.
Bryant is still young and can provide value on the court. Whether the 28-year-old will be able to contribute in the NBA again remains to be seen. However, as it stands, his Pacers tenure and his NBA career are both likely coming to an end (at least temporarily).
The Pacers were unlikely to bring Thomas Bryant back this offseason
Even after Myles Turner's decision to join the Milwaukee Bucks, it always seemed unlikely that Indiana would bring Bryant back. They re-signed Isaiah Jackson and James Wiseman, two players who could be long-term contributors with the Pacers, depending on how they play following their Achilles injuries. Furthermore, the Pacers also traded for Jay Huff and exercised Tony Bradley's team option.
There is a lot to like about Bryant. He is capable of stretching the floor and brings a lot of energy. However, the writing was on the wall with the Pacers' moves this offseason, and it always seemed likely that the New York native would have to find a new home this summer.
Bryant appeared in 55 games for the Pacers during the regular season, including eight starts. In those games, he averaged 6.9 points and 3.9 rebounds in 15.1 minutes. Furthermore, he shot 51.5% from the field during that stretch.
For most of the season, Bryant was Indiana's only backup behind Turner. While he played well in his role at times, he ultimately lost his primary backup role to Bradley in the playoffs before he went down with an injury. Ultimately, Bryant's Pacers career was not too eventful, but he played hard and provided some value whenever he stepped on the court. For now, it seems that Indiana will be his last stop in the league. However, it would not be a surprise if he makes his way back to the NBA at some point.