Pacers Make Trade, Acquire NBA Champion Center From East Rival

Indiana has added some major frontcourt help.

Jan 28, 2020; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Washington Wizards center Thomas Bryant (13) shoots against Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (11) during the second quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images / Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

The Indiana Pacers finally have their backup big man.

Shams Charania of ESPN reports that Indiana has agreed to a swap of future second round draft picks in exchange for Miami Heat deep-bench center Thomas Bryant.

Bryant only becomes trade-eligible on Sunday, December 15, because he inked a free agent deal to return to the Heat (for some reason, even though he was not a part of the team's rotation by the end of the year) over the summer.

Indiana had long been on the prowl to replace two of its injured backup centers, James Wiseman and Isaiah Jackson, both of whom are done for the year with respective Achilles tendon tears. Initially, the Pacers signed 7-foot-2 G League standout Moses Brown to serve as starting big man Myles Turner, but recently waived him, freeing up a roster spot for a bigger move.

When the deal does become official, presumably on Sunday, the 27-year-old Bryant will be returning to a familiar area. He spent his NCAA years as an Indiana Hoosier.

The 6-foot-10 big man was drafted with the No. 42 overall pick in 2017, and began his pro tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers, during the season prior to 20-time All-Star forward LeBron James' free agent arrival. Bryant spent his most productive pro seasons with the Washington Wizards, from 2018-22. Injuries limited his efficacy, however. He only played 83 games across his final three seasons with the Wizards. During his four total years in D.C., Bryant averaged 11.0 points on .594/.360/.770 shooting splits, 6.2 boards, 1.4 dimes, and 0.9 blocks per bout.

He split 2022-23 between the Lakers and the Denver Nuggets, after Los Angeles ditched him midway through the year. While a deep-bench backup to three-time MVP center Nikola Jokic, Bryant watched as his Nuggets swept the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals, before beating the Heat in a five-game NBA Finals series to claim the franchise's first title in its history. Bryant appeared in just one game during Denver's playoff run, playing 29 seconds in a 15-point Finals Game 3 blowout victory.

Bryant subsequently inked a free agent veteran's deal with the Heat in the summer of 2023 to back up All-Star Miami center Bam Adebayo, but by midseason he was primarily riding pine. This year with the 13-10 Heat, Bryant has appeared in just 10 games, averaging 4.1 points while slashing .429/.353/1.000 shooting splits, 3.2 rebonds, and 0.9 blocks in 11.5 minutes per.

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