Cavs season preview: Thomas Bryant – Will year two in Cleveland provide better results?

CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 5: Thomas Bryant #3 of the Cleveland Cavaliers talks to the media after the game against the Indiana Pacers on April 5, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers have long searched for a true backup center to complement Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. Tristan Thompson and Robin Lopez were given chances in the past. Neither adequately filled that role. Thomas Bryant has been the latest person to try to do so.

Bryant was far from a consistent presence. While he provided energy on the floor, he also looked as erratic as prior holders of the backup center role at times. Bryant impacted games the most when his threes were falling. When they weren’t, he would just create poor spacing alongside Allen and Mobley.

As the Cavaliers decided to bring back Bryant for a second run, it felt like a cost measure and a locker room move rather than one based entirely on his play on the court. Bryant posted 6.2 points and 3.4 rebounds per game for the Cavs last season. The three-point shot would come and go from game to game, but it never felt as impactful as one would have hoped.

If you are looking for reasons for optimism, you can look at the games in which Bryant saw more consistent playing time. Bryant played over 20 minutes in the regular season five times, in which he put up a respectable 12.6 points and 6.6 rebounds. While these are not stats that would have you clamoring for more, Bryant can still be serviceable when called on.

With Larry Nance Jr. off the roster and Khalifa Diop getting his legs under him, the roadmap is there for Bryant to get more run this season. Bryant had shown previously, especially in his postseason run with the Indiana Pacers in 2024-25, that he can provide impactful minutes. Obviously, that was two years ago. However, Bryant is not some washed-up veteran; at 29, it is more than fair to expect that he can get back to an impactful role.

With another year in Cleveland’s system, the coaching staff might have better ideas on how to utilize Bryant without creating spacing issues for the accompanying big going forward. For now, it appears that the realistic expectation is that Bryant will replicate the same production as last season. While not the most exciting option in the world, the Cavaliers have seen far less capable bigs assume the backup center role.