Another former Pacers center has signed with a Central Division rival, though this time there was less resistance on the part of the Pacers.

Thomas Bryant, also a former Indiana University star, has signed a one-year contract with the Cavaliers according to ESPN’s Shams Charania after averaging 6.9 points and 3.9 rebounds off the bench for the Pacers in 2024-25. Bryant averaged just 2.6 points and 1.4 rebounds per game in 20 playoff appearances during the Pacers’ first NBA Finals run in 25 years, but he shot 48.5% from the floor and 50% from 3-point range in the postseason. He scored nine points in the Pacers’ Game 5, series-clinching win over Cleveland in the Eastern Conference semifinals and 11 in the Pacers Game 6 win over the Knicks that clinched the Eastern Conference title.

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Bryant was acquired from the Heat in a trade on Dec. 15 after Pacers backup centers Isaiah Jackson and James Wiseman each tore an Achilles tendon in the first 10 days of the season. He served as backup to starter Myles Turner the rest of the season. The Pacers surprisingly lost Turner to free agency when the Milwaukee Bucks freed up space by waiving and stretching Damian Lillard to sign Turner to a four-year, $108.9-million dollar contract. However, the Pacers decided against re-signing Bryant, instead re-signing Jackson and Wiseman, picking up center Tony Bradley’s club option and acquiring center Jay Huff from the Grizzlies in a trade.

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With all 15 standard contracts filled and four centers on the roster, there has effectively been no space for Bryant since July. In late July, reports surfaced that Bryant was nearing a deal with the Greek club Panathinaikos but the Cavaliers deal allows him to stay in the United States.

Bryant, a Rochester, N.Y. native, spent two seasons at Indiana, earning Big Ten All-Freshman honors in 2015-16 when he helped the Hoosiers claim a Big Ten title and reach the Sweet 16. He was taken 42nd overall in the 2017 draft and played with the Lakers, Wizards, Nuggets and Heat before he was acquired by the Pacers. He won an NBA title with Denver in 2023 and is averaging 8.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per game for his eight-year career.

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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Thomas Bryant: Former Pacer, IU star signs with Cavaliers