Most important free agents are accounted for in the NBA by the middle of September, but the Cleveland Cavaliers found themselves a sneaky addition on Tuesday.
The Cavs have signed Thomas Bryant to a one-year contract, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.
Bryant was crucial in the Pacers' run to the NBA Finals, and after rumors that he might be heading overseas for the 2025-26 season, he's staying in the Midwest.
And given the Cavs' depth chart, this might be the perfect signing.
Why did the Cavs sign Thomas Bryant?
The Cleveland Cavaliers needed a backup big man.
Jarrett Allen (center) and Evan Mobley (power forward) are top-notch starters in the front court.
But the rest of the size on the current roster was either heavily perimeter-based (Dean Wade), old (Tristan Thompson) or undersized (DeAndre Hunter).
Bryant has lots of starting experience as a center in the NBA, and he's a top-notch backup.
The Rochester, N.Y. native got his start in the NBA with the Lakers after being a second-round pick in 2017.
He played just 15 games in that first stint in Los Angeles, then came back in 2022-23 for 41 more games (including 25 starts). Bryant was on the floor when LeBron James made the shot that broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's all-time scoring record.
Bryant only spent the second half of the 2024-25 season with the Pacers, but his clutch outside shooting propelled them past the Knicks and into the NBA Finals.
The 6-foot-10 Bryant has been a solid NBA player through eight seasons. He has career averages of 8.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, with 34.6% shooting from 3. He was a full-time starter for multiple seasons with the Wizards.
He turned 28 on July 31.
And with the Cavs chasing a title, they clearly felt Bryant could help put them over the top.
MORE: Luka Doncic reveals retirement plans involving Real Madrid