The Atlanta Hawks are bringing in a six-year NBA veteran. According to a team press release, Atlanta has signed center Tony Bradley. Per Brad Rowland of Locked on Hawks, it will be an Exhibit 10 deal for the 26-year-old. His signing now brings the Hawks training camp roster to a full 21 players.
While it will certainly be an uphill climb for Bradley to make Atlanta’s opening day roster, the Exhibit 10 deal would allow him to play for their G League affiliate, the College Park Skyhawks in the upcoming season.
Six-Year NBA Veteran Center Signs With Hawks
Bradley Has Played For Four NBA Teams In His Career
The six-foot-10 Bradley has played six seasons in the NBA. They came from 2017-18 to 2022-23, and he spent last season playing for the Texas Legends in the G League. Bradley was actually involved in a three-team G League trade in late September that sent him to the Skyhawks.
After playing collegiately one season for the North Carolina Tar Heels, Bradley entered his name into the 2017 NBA Draft. He was selected 28th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers. Bradley was subsequently traded on draft night to the Utah Jazz in exchange for Thomas Bryant and Josh Hart.
Bradley would spend his first three NBA seasons with the Jazz. He began the 2020-21 season with the Philadelphia 76ers before being dealt to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Bradley then spent the ensuing two seasons (2021-22 and 2022-22) donning the Chicago Bulls jersey.
In his six NBA seasons, Bradley has appeared in 179 career regular season games. He has posted averages of 4.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, 0.5 assists, and 0.6 blocks. The center has shot 63.1% from the field, 6-12 (50%) from three-point range, and 68.1% from the charity stripe. Bradley’s career-high of 18 points came on March 23, 2021 as a member of the 76ers against the Golden State Warriors. He has played in nine career postseason games (seven with Utah, two with Chicago).
In 13 regular season games with the Legends in the G League last season, Bradley went on to average 15.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.9 blocks. He would shoot an impressive 65.3% from the field with the Legends.
Center Depth Is Full For Atlanta
While the Hawks underwent some changes from last season by dealing Dejounte Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans, they have a fairly full depth chart when it comes to the center position.
Clint Capela remains with the club after spending the last four seasons as Atlanta’s full-time starting center. Onyeka Okongwu, the sixth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, has seen his playing time increase each season through his first four. In the Murray deal, the Hawks received Larry Nance Jr. and Cody Zeller. While there have been previous rumblings about dealing Capela in order to open a starting spot for Okongwu, that hasn’t happened yet.
It doesn’t seem as if Bradley will be able to crack the NBA squad, but at least the team will have a viable six-year veteran waiting in the wings on their G League squad if their depth is challenged due to injuries and/or trades.
