Indiana cuts: Tony Bradley shown the door, Pacers shift course
In Indianapolis, the move didn’t go unnoticed. The Pacers chose to part ways with Tony Bradley — quiet on the surface, but telling of a deliberate strategic shift. Reported by Jake Fischer, the news proves one thing: Indiana’s already looking ahead.
A financial choice as much as a sporting one
Bradley played 29 games this season, in a limited but identifiable rotation role. 3,9 points, 2,6 rebonds, limited minutes, and above all a non-guaranteed contract that had to be decided before Wednesday for the 2025-26 season. The Pacers chose to cut him loose.
Result: 1 355 225 dollars in dead money on the table, a sum shouldered by the franchise according to ESPN and Bobby Marks. An immediate cost, but reclaimed freedom to tweak the roster.
If the big man clears waivers, he’ll become an unrestricted free agent. And Indiana’s left the door ajar. A return on a ten-day contract remains a credible option, as Tony East pointed out. A split without a proper full stop.
Micah Potter, symbol of the new bet
Behind the move one name stands out: Micah Potter. Arriving on December 26, the big man didn’t take long to make himself essential. A starter in the last two games, he posts solid numbers across six appearances: 8,2 points, 4,5 rebonds, 2,2 passes, with clean, steady efficiency.
Potter plays the right way, understands the system, and brings versatility that fits Rick Carlisle’s current philosophy. The trend’s clear: Indiana wants to test, speed things up, and hand minutes to those who show up now.
Bradley, a rough season
For Tony Bradley, the cut leaves a bitter taste. Approaching 28, the big man had to cope with a fracture at the tip of his right thumb. Rick Carlisle called the finger “partially functional”. Despite a splint, Bradley kept playing, never really able to string games together.
His impact stayed limited, squeezed between physical constraints and internal competition. Not enough, clearly, to convince the front office to lock in his deal long-term.
A forward-looking approach
This move isn’t a blunt dismissal so much as a matter of timing. The Pacers want flexibility, profiles that can plug in fast, and pliable contracts. Bradley no longer ticked all the boxes.
By contrast, Potter embodies what the franchise wants to grow: a useful player who doesn’t hog the ball, who can defend, pass and adapt.
And now?
Bradley’s future is open. His original salary of 2,94 millions de dollars and his NBA experience could tempt several teams looking for interior depth. It’s on him to turn this cut into an opportunity.
From Indiana’s side, the message is blunt. The Pacers are moving, even if it means making uncomfortable calls. In an NBA where every spot counts, they’ve chosen to act early rather than wait.
A calculated wager. And maybe, in time, a paying one.
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