Thomas Bryant gave the Cavaliers exactly the kind of reserve big man minutes they were banking on when they brought him in last September.
Cleveland added Bryant to a frontcourt that already featured Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, and Larry Nance Jr., then made the move official just before training camp. The veteran arrived with playoff mileage and a championship pedigree after a painful NBA Finals run with the Indiana Pacers, where he had played a key role in big moments.
The backup frontcourt job became a head-to-head fight between Bryant and Nance, and Bryant came out on top. He supplied the rebounding, strength, and physical edge Cleveland wanted, and he gave the second unit a lift on several nights during the regular season.
His best stretches came when he was on the floor for real minutes. In five games where he played at least 20 minutes, Bryant posted 12.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists while shooting 84.7% in True Shooting. In those spots, he also hit .686/.647/.800.
Bryant’s only start came April 5 against his former Indiana team, and he made it count with a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double. He added two assists, a block, and knocked down two 3-pointers.
The postseason was a much different story. Cleveland barely used him, with his high-water mark coming in just under 10 minutes in Game 1 against the Detroit Pistons. Kenny Atkinson leaned into small, guard-heavy lineups and also used Dean Wade at center in some of those looks.
As a result, Bryant’s playoff impact was minimal. Before logging most of his minutes in the Cavs’ final game of the year in blowout fashion, he had gone 2-of-14 from the field and grabbed only eight rebounds overall.
His playoff line ended at 6.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 0.6 assists per game, with shooting splits of 50.6% from the field, 35.9% from 3-point range, and 80.3% from the line.
Bryant is likely headed elsewhere, with the same expected for Nance since both players signed one-year contracts.
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Williams brings defensive appeal and enough upside to make him an interesting development bet, especially in Kenny Atkinsons system, where the Cavs have shown a willingness to try to unlock more from young players. He also offers a possible cushion if Dean Wades free agency takes him elsewhere, which gives this pursuit a practical edge beyond simply adding another body on the wing. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Just Lost A Defensive Piece Fans Thought Would Stick
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Cavs Could Make The All In Move LeBron Would Notice
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For Cleveland, the idea is less about nostalgia than ambition, because any true swing would have to be big enough to change how the league views the roster right away. The Cavaliers have been linked in rumor chatter to a possible major deal with Boston, and even the existence of that kind of discussion tells you how aggressive this front office might be willing to get if it sees a path to moving the team into a different tier. [Read more 🡒]