Multiple reports from various outlets have mentioned Indiana Pacers reserve point guard T.J. McConnell as a player to watch on the trade market this season.
McConnell, 31, was out of the rotation early in the season for the blue and gold but has proven to be a valuable contributor for the team. He is averaging 7.8 points and 5.4 assists per game while appearing in 32 of the team's 40 games. His per-minute scoring and passing numbers are at career-best levels.
His solid play has been important for the Pacers this season. He was a key piece in a recent road win over the Milwaukee Bucks, and his off-court contributions as a veteran are valuable to his team. Even on a roster with Tyrese Haliburton and Andew Nembhard, McConnell has carved out a role in the backcourt.
"T.J. has been very consistent for the last month. More than that. Been really great all year," Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said last week.
The same reasons that McConnell is important to Indiana are why other franchises would want to acquire him. The Phoenix Suns, for example, were reportedly interested in the veteran guard during the offseason, but no deal ended up taking place.
Now, other organizations are still interested in the Pacers bench point guard. Michael Scotto reported in HoopsHype earlier in the season that "Point guard T.J. McConnell is another player rival executives seeking help in the backcourt are monitoring, league sources told HoopsHype."
The 31-year old went undrafted in 2015 but has proven his abilities both in Indiana and Philadelphia. The Pacers acquired McConnell originally in 2019 by agreeing to a two-year deal, and they re-signed him in 2021 on a four-year agreement.
McConnell's cap hit is $8.7 million, and it climbs to $9.3 million next season. In 2024-25, only $5 million of the contract is guaranteed, and that flexibility could be desired by teams under the NBA's new collective bargaining agreement. Keeping McConnell is likely worth more than $4.3 million in savings, but his contract is still appealing in deals.
Jake Fischer reported on McConnell for Yahoo Sports back in December. "Backup floor general T.J. McConnell has drawn ongoing interest from playoff teams in search of greater backcourt help, league sources told Yahoo Sports."
The Pacers have a lot of depth as it stands, so they may be more interested in either talent upgrades or draft capital in deals as opposed to young players who can't get minutes. But context matters so much that it's hard to say what McConnell could fetch in a trade.
He's been playing well of late, and the Pacers are 17-15 when McConnell suits up this season. The veteran guard reportedly wanted to stay with Indiana during the offseason.
The trade deadline is on February 8, which is in just over three weeks. The Pacers could do a number of things between now and then.
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