Heat trade Thomas Bryant to Pacers

The Miami Heat this weekend traded center Thomas Bryant to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for the right to swap second round picks in 2031. Miami will have the more favorable of the HEAT and Pacer second round picks in 2031.

Bryant appeared in 10 games with the HEAT this season and averaged 4.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 11.5 minutes.

Bryant will wear number 3 for the Pacers

Lakers sign Thomas Bryant

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed center Thomas Bryant.

His deal is reportedly a one-year contract for the league minimum.

Bryant appeared in 27 games (nine starts) for the Wizards last season, averaging 7.4 points (.520 FG%) and 4.0 rebounds in 16.3 minutes. Bryant returns to Los Angeles after appearing in 15 games as a rookie for the Lakers during the 2017-18 season. Across five seasons with Los Angeles and Washington, Bryant has appeared in 170 games (108 starts) with career averages of 10.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 20.1 minutes, while shooting 59.0 percent from the field and 35.0 percent from three-point range.

Per ESPN.com, “Bryant was originally drafted by the Lakers in the second round of the 2017 draft, but he was waived after a rookie season that saw him play in only 52 games. He gives this Lakers team more frontcourt depth and a starting-caliber center to pair alongside Anthony Davis.”

Search for new Wizards head coach begins

The Washington Wizards coaching search has begun. Via the Washington Times:

As word quickly traveled that the Washington Wizards were parting ways with Scott Brooks, general manager Tommy Sheppard’s cell phone started to light up. There was no shortage of suitors who were already expressing interest in the team’s coaching vacancy, he said.

“I’m getting bombarded,” Sheppard said.

Perhaps Sheppard was trying to quell concerns or hype up the franchise given that there are five other teams in search of a new coach. But after moving on from Brooks following five seasons, one thing is clear: Sheppard will get to choose who he feels is best for the franchise after inheriting Brooks upon his front office promotion in 2019.

This will be Sheppard’s first coaching hire, and he could go any direction with it. For example, does he want an experienced veteran to lead stars Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook? Or does he prefer an up-and-coming candidate who might be better equipped if the Wizards are forced to take a sudden change of direction? Sheppard could even look to make history, leaving open the possibility the team could hire the league’s first woman head coach.

The Wizards core awaiting the next head coach includes Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal in the backcourt, and Davis Bertans, Rui Hachumura and Thomas Bryant in the frontcourt, plus promising rookie guard Deni Avdija. All are signed at least through next season.

Wizards center Thomas Bryant suffers major injury to left knee

Wizards center Thomas Bryant has been diagnosed with a partially torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. He suffered the injury as a result of incidental contact with two Miami players during the first quarter of the team’s game vs. the Heat on Saturday night.

The injury was revealed following examination and MRI testing by Wizards Orthopedist Dr. William Postma of MedStar Health in conjunction with Monumental Basketball Chief of Athlete Care & Performance Dr. Daniel Medina.

There is no timetable for when Bryant may return, but it’s quite likely he will be out for the remainder of the 2020-21 NBA season.

According to the Washington Post, “Bryant fell under the basket less than two minutes into the game Saturday, after which he writhed on the floor in pain and smacked the court with one hand before walking to the locker room with a Wizards staffer supporting him on either side. The 23-year-old’s injury comes just as he was hitting his stride in Washington.”

Bryant was averaging 14.3 points and 6.1 rebounds while shooting .648 from the floor and .429 from three-point range in 10 games this season.

Wizards center Thomas Bryant fined by NBA

Washington Wizards center Thomas Bryant has been fined $45,000 for repeatedly making inappropriate contact with a game official, it was announced today by Kiki VanDeWeghe, Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

Bryant, who received a technical foul as part of the incident, was aggressively attempting to confront Detroit Pistons forward Blake Griffin, who had committed a Flagrant Foul 1 against Bryant on the play.

The incident occurred with 8:42 remaining in the third quarter of Washington’s 97-86 preseason loss to Detroit on Dec. 17 at Capital One Arena.

Wizards center Thomas Bryant out with foot injury

The Washington Wizards will be without starting center Thomas Bryant while he recovers from a stress reaction in his right foot.

Bryant started experiencing pain in his foot after the team’s December 1 road game against the Clippers.

The team says Bryant will be re-evaluated in three weeks.

With point guard John Wall out with a long-term injury, the Wizards are 6-12 this season and don’t look like a contender to make the playoffs. They’re getting an impressive 28.0 points per game from shooting guard Bradley Beal, with Bryant second at 12.8 PPG. But what’s interesting is, as a group the team’s offense has been one of the most efficient in the NBA. The issue is defense, and the Wizards are last in the entire NBA in that department.

Losing Bryant also means the team loses their only strong rebounder. He’s first on the squad at 8.5 RPG, while no other Wizards players are even grabbing 6 RPG.

It’s possible that rookie forward Rui Hachimura, who really does belong at the forward spot, will see some minutes at center while Bryant is out.