Hawks sign former Lakers 1st-round pick on eve of preseason opener

The Atlanta Hawks got active on the eve of their preseason opener at home against the Indiana Pacers.

Hawks general manager Landry Fields said on media day that the roster remains a work in progress. The Hawks added to the state of flux, signing former Los Angeles Lakers first-round pick Tony Bradley to a contract, per NBA.com’s Kevin Chouinard on October 7.

Bradley was the No. 28 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.

A 6-foot-10 center, Bradley has played for the Chicago Bulls, Oklahoma City Thunder, Philadelphia 76ers, and Utah Jazz in his seven-year career.

He has also spent time with the Dallas Mavericks and Detroit Pistons. Bradley spent the 2023-24 season with the Mavericks’ G League affiliate, the Texas Legends, averaging 15.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks in 22 minutes per game across 13 contests.

Hawks’ latest addition could mean veteran’s time nearing end

Adding Bradley contributes to the Hawks’ frontcourt logjam. But the issue, at least to the degree that it is currently, may only be temporary.

Fields was asked about center Cody Zeller, who was not in attendance for the team’s media day and has been away since becoming the final piece of the trade that sent Dejounte Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Hawks GM admitted that the veteran’s future with the team remains in limbo.

“It's still an evaluation right now as it relates to our roster and how that's going to shape up going into training camp,” Fields told reporters during his availability on Hawks media day on September 30. “We're in talks with his camp. Just kind of seeing what that's going to look like for the future.”

Bringing in another big on a roster that still features Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu and includes Larry Nance Jr., whom head coach Quin Snyder referred to as a center, seems telling.

However, Bradley’s exhibit-10 contract is only for training camp.

The Hawks cannot convert the 26-year-old’s pact into a two-way deal because he has four years of NBA experience. The Hawks currently have forward Dominick Barlow, guard Keaton Wallace, and swingman Seth Lundy filling their three allotted two-way contract slots anyway.

Hawks' Tony Bradley will live in NBA infamy

The Hawks have to hope that Bradley – a career backup with 18 starts in 179 appearances since entering the league – is well past his most notable on-court moment.

Bradley, then with the Bulls, got into an altercation with Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant.

The interaction ended with Bradley being carried down the court by then-Grizzlies center Steven Adams, now of the Houston Rockets. Adams, known as one of if not the strongest players in the league, handled Bradley as a parent would their disruptive child.

That was nearly three years ago. But it is something that still comes up from time to time on social media, even about non-basketball events.

The Hawks’ roster is now full with 21 players.

Bradley joins Daeqwon Plowden and Kevon Harris as Hawks on exhibit-10 contracts. None of them have a clear path to a roster spot barring one or, and probably more likely, more injuries ahead of them.