JULY 2: The Heat have formally announced Bryant’s deal with the team, issuing a press release to confirm that it’s official.
JULY 1: The Heat and free agent center Thomas Bryant have agreed to a two-year contract, agents Mark Bartelstein and Zach Kurtin tell Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link).
It’ll be a minimum-salary contract with a second-year player option, according to Wojnarowski. The first-year cap hit will be about $2.53MM, then Bryant will make a decision on a $2.85MM salary for 2024/25.
Bryant, who will turn 26 later this month, signed with the Lakers in free agency a year ago after returning from an Achilles tear that limited him to 37 total games for the Wizards in the prior two seasons. He played well in Los Angeles, averaging 12.1 points and 6.8 rebounds in 41 games, including 25 starts. However, when his rotation role was cut back, he reportedly sought a change of scenery.
The Lakers acquiesced, sending him to the Nuggets in a trade-deadline deal. Bryant didn’t end up playing much in Denver either, averaging just 11.4 MPG in 18 appearances down the stretch, but he got to part of the team’s championship run this spring.
In Miami, Bryant figures to get an opportunity to play rotation minutes behind Bam Adebayo at center, with centers Cody Zeller and Omer Yurtseven both on the open market and seemingly unlikely to return. The Heat’s newest center will bring some floor-stretching ability, having made 36.6% of his career three-pointers.
A strong season would put Bryant in position to opt out and return to free agency a year from now.
Heat are a nice organization.
Good deal for Heat.
Absolutely this is a great move because Bam Adebayo needs a good backup Center. Thomas Bryant will be a very nice backup for him. Bam Adebayo is about to have another great season but when he goes to the bench Erik Spoelstra need somebody to come in and hold it down.
It’s no stopping Nikola Jokic but in the NBA Finals Bam Adebayo was making him work for everything. When Cody Zeller came in Joker was going crazy on him. Thomas Bryant is a better backup Center than Cody Zeller.
That’s champion of the world Thomas Bryant to you
Does he get his wish now (to get more plating time)?
He wouldn’t be in my rotation unless Love is hurt or certain specific matchups
Maybe heat culture will teach him to play defense.he’s awful defensively
Definitely will do better than the Lakers. Heat culture cures all ills.
dude averaged 9.8 points and 5.7 boards last season. why isn’t his salary starting at 25 mil??
Good pick up. Def could have used him in the Finals
…I guess for the depth big spot we technically could use with 1 of the 4 spots, but I dont see the need/spot for him unless Kevin Love gets hurt
They didnt need another floor spacing big. They had Robinson to replace Yurtseven as their offensive type big, and he would have been cheaper…
They need a smallball 5, help at the 4, and another wing/guard with their last 3 spots, and that would still be the same, whether or not they make a poor trade for Lillard
This’ll definitely put us over the hump vs Denver in the ‘24 finals.
Adding Dame might help, too.