Free agent Pacers reserve center Thomas Bryant is nearing a new deal to leave the NBA and sign with the Greek club Panathinaikos, per a report from TeleSport (Twitter link; hat tip to Kevin Martorano of Sportando).
The 6’10” Indiana alum was traded from the Heat to the Pacers last season after a pair of Indiana big men, James Wiseman and Isaiah Jackson, both went down early with Achilles tears. Across 56 healthy games with the Pacers, Bryant averaged 6.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.5 blocks, and 0.5 steals in 15.1 minutes per night.
Bryant was employed spottily in head coach Rick Carlisle‘s rotation throughout Indiana’s run to the NBA Finals. In 20 games, he averaged 2.6 PPG and 1.4 RPG with a shooting line of .485/.500/.786 in 8.4 MPG.
The 27-year-old big man has suited up for five teams across his eight NBA seasons. If he ends up finalizing a deal with Panathinaikos – or another European club – it would be the first time he has played professionally overseas.
Panathinaikos has been hoping to bring in an NBA-caliber center throughout the summer, as Martorano observes. Talks fell apart with center Jonas Valanciunas when it became apparent that Denver didn’t want to release its newly acquired backup big man.
Must be a pretty good deal. I thought he played well enough to get another vet minimum
He’ll likely be similar or take a slight paycut. NBA vet minimum for someone with Bryant’s experience is over $3 million. Panathinaikos’s highest paid player last year was
Sasha Vezenkov at 3.9 million euros. Evan Fournier was their second-highest at 2.1 million euros.
It seems like you are confusing the two Greek teams. Sasha Vezenkov and Evan Fournier play fir Olympiakos. Panathinaikos highest paid player is Kendrick Nunn with 4,5 millions, Mathias Lessor with 2,8 and Juancho Hernangomes with 2,5.
Nobody refers to his college as the “University of Indiana.” It is always Indiana University or by the initials IU.
Do the students who did his 2 years of class work for him get a cut of his career earnings?
Such a weird comment
So no NBA team wants him? Crying cheap owners have made free agency a joke!
God do you ever have a good take?
Do you only get hurt by the comments of others or do you just lack the ability to have a civil discussion alohatron10?
He can no longer make 3’s which makes him completely useless.
The torn ACL at age 23 derailed his career. I will remember him for that game where he scored 31 and didn’t miss a single field goal attempt.
Good luck, Thomas!
His play as a wizard was truly great. He was never going to be a great nba player but he put up some solid numbers for his standards when he was in Washington.