The Hawks have placed Caleb Houstan on waivers, the team announced, and sources tell ESPN’s Shams Charania they will sign center Tony Bradley for the rest of the season to take his place (Twitter link).
Bradley has been out of the league since January 28 when his second 10-day contract with the Pacers expired, so he’ll be eligible for the playoffs. Atlanta needs another reliable backup big man after Jock Landale suffered a high right ankle sprain that will sideline him for at least the next two weeks.
Bradley, 28, began the season on a standard contract with Indiana prior to being waived January 5 before his $2,940,876 salary became fully guaranteed. He was re-signed to a 10-day deal three days later, then received another 10-day contract on January 19.
The Hawks will be the sixth team for Bradley, who’s in his eighth NBA season. He started his career in Utah under Hawks coach Quin Snyder and spent part of last season with Atlanta’s G League affiliate, the College Park Skyhawks, notes Brad Rowland of Locked on Hawks (Twitter link).
Houstan, a 23-year-old small forward. spent three years in Orlando before signing a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 contract with Atlanta in August. He earned a two-way deal during the preseason, was promoted to a standard contract on February 19 and was set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. That deal was fully guaranteed, so he’ll receive his salary for the final nine days of the season.
Houstan saw just 4.2 minutes per game in 18 appearances with the Hawks. He spent most of the season in the G League with College Park, where he averaged 16.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 25 regular season games with .391/.422./.902 shooting numbers.
Houstan was selected by Orlando with the 32nd pick in the 2022 draft and appeared in 168 games over three seasons with the Magic.