Nov 1, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA: Details view of the Indiana Pacers logo against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Pacers Key Free Agent Nearing Deal With Surprise Team

Originally posted on Indianapolis Pacers on SI
By Alex Kirschenbaum | Last updated Jul 27, 2025 3:30 PM ET

A key Indiana Pacers free agent is on the cusp of agreeing to a new deal with a surprise club.

Indiana is down two NBA Finals starters already heading into the 2025-26 season.

Two-time All-NBA Third Team point guard Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles tendon early in an eventual Game 7 Finals loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The 6-foot-5 Iowa State product has already been ruled out for the entire 2025-26 season.

With Haliburton sidelined all year, 3-and-D starting center Myles Turner opted to ditch Indiana after 10 seasons, inking a four-season, $108.9 million deal with the Milwaukee Bucks.

More news: Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton Has One-Word Response to Newest Teammate

Now, the Pacers intend to replace Turner with a variety of backup-level big men.

But one apparently is headed out the door.

Free agent floor-spacing center Thomas Bryant is eyeing a potential new contract with Greek EuroLeague club Panathinaikos, reports Kevin Martorano of Sportando.

Panathinaikos is close to reaching an agreement with Thomas Bryant @Sportando https://t.co/utlAJGMLT3
— Sportando (@Sportando) July 27, 2025

The 6-foot-10 big man, never much of a rim protector, did have some big playoff moments, perhaps highlighted by a red-hot third quarter against the favored New York Knicks in a closeout Game 6 Eastern Conference Finals game — and series — victory.

A PAIR OF HUGE THOMAS BRYANT TRIPLES

Caitlin Clark showing her respect after Indy's 9-2 run in Game 6 pic.twitter.com/5RmHx4vicz
— NBA (@NBA) June 1, 2025

Bryant, 27, is expected to net a contract with Panathinaikos in the range of $3 million annually, according to TeleSport.rs.

BREAKING: Has Panathinaikos found a replacement for Jonas Valanciunas?

According to our exclusive sources, Thomas Bryant is the top candidate to strengthen Panathinaikos at the center position. The two sides are in advanced negotiations, and if everything goes according to… pic.twitter.com/AqCuuk4dIq
— TeleSport.rs (@TelesportRS) July 27, 2025

The journeyman big has suited up for five NBA teams since 2017-18: the Los Angeles Lakers (twice), the Washington Wizards, the Denver Nuggets, the Miami Heat, and most recently Indiana. Bryant won the 2023 championship as a deep-bench backup for Denver.

The Pacers traded for Bryant early into the season, after normal backups Isaiah Jackson and James Wiseman suffered season-ending Achilles tendon tears of their own. Indiana has since re-signed both Jackson and Wiseman, and traded for Jay Huff.

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That triumvirate now seems poised to compete for center minutes as part of a piecemeal Turner replacement strategy.

In 56 games with Indiana last season (eight starts), Bryant notched averages of 6.9 points on .515.321/.830 shooting splits, 3.9 boards, 0.9 assists, 0.5 blocks and 0.5 steals a night. He's a career 34.6 percent 3-point shooter on 1.5 triple tries a night, not bad for a big guy averaging just 17.7 minutes per.

More news:

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Pacers Make Massive Roster Move as Offseason Rolls On

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This article first appeared on Indianapolis Pacers on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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