Tony Bradley not only earned his way onto the Indiana Pacers' postseason roster, but proved to the franchise that they should keep him around.
Ahead of the start of NBA free agency, the Pacers exercised their team option on the former UNC basketball standout. It's a deal worth $2.94 million non-guaranteed.
Just In: The Indiana Pacers have exercised their team option on Tony Bradley, which is worth $2.94 million non-guaranteed, league sources told @hoopshype. pic.twitter.com/rauJ6dv1Ca
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) June 29, 2025
It made sense for the Pacers to exercise this option, given its a low-risk, high-reward type of move. Bradley proved his worth by working through two 10-day contracts before ultimately landing a one-year deal to finish out the season.
Indiana ended up coming one win short of an NBA title, and Bradley played a small, yet impactful, role off the bench.
Bradley appeared in 14 regular season contests, averaging 4.4 points and 3.0 rebounds per-game. In the postseason, the former Tar Heel saw more action as the Pacers got deeper into the playoffs, playing 10 or more minutes on three occasions between the Eastern Conference Finals and the NBA Finals.
While plenty of moves are still to be made across the NBA over the next few weeks, Bradley currently has a home with the Pacers. Even though his contract is non-guaranteed, the former Tar Heel has proven his value, making him an intriguing candidate to make the Pacers roster as valuable backup depth along the front court.
If things don't end up working out in Indiana, there are plenty of other big-man needy teams that will be interested in his services.