Utah Signs Veteran Big Man Ahead of Season

The Utah Jazz have claimed Tony Bradley off waivers on Saturday, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The move fills the team's 15th and final standard roster spot just days before the 2026-27 season tips off.

Bradley, the No. 28 pick in the 2017 draft out of North Carolina, was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers (then traded on draft night to the Jazz) and spent his first three seasons in Utah. He appeared in 70 games with the Jazz, averaging 4.4 points and 4.2 rebounds in just over 10 minutes a night, before the team moved him in 2020.

He arrives from New York. Bradley spent camp and the preseason with the Knicks on an Exhibit 9 contract before being waived on Oct. 1,5 alongside former Jazz players Ochai Agbaji and Drew Eubanks.

This move comes at a time when the Jazz are in need of frontcourt help. With Jusuf Nurkic sidelined for the next few weeks, Utah has been trying to figure out the center position during the preseason. The preseason finale against the Phoenix Suns showed just that.

Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jaxson Hayes dealt with foul trouble, combining for nine fouls. That situation is something that a veteran big is meant to step in and resolve.

Coach Will Hardy pointed to a gap in the frontcourt when asked about the move, according to Sports Illustrated's Jazz site. "Especially with [Jusuf Nurkic's] injury, having another player who brings a lot of size to the game is helpful," Hardy said. "Tony's also a super intelligent player, so I think his feel can help us."

Bradley, 6-foot-10 and 248 pounds, enters his ninth NBA season as a journeyman. After Utah, he played for Philadelphia, Oklahoma City, Chicago, Indiana and Atlanta, along with several G League teams. He appeared in 41 games between Indiana and Atlanta last season.

The Jazz made other moves Saturday. They waived Jonas Aidoo and Tamar Bates and converted Harrison Ingram to a two-way contract.

Bradley isn't expected to see a major role early. Even with Nurkic sidelined, Utah still has Jackson, Hayes, Mo Bamba and Kyle Filipowski in their frontcourt. What he does bring is some veteran depth to the roster. If Nurkic returns on schedule and Bradley slides to the end of the bench, the Jazz will have exercised no risk.

For Jazz fans, it's also a familiar face back in the locker room: a former first-rounder getting another chance to help the franchise that drafted him early in the season.