The Indiana Pacers have a depth issue in the backcourt. The Pacers knew that Tyrese Haliburton wouldn’t be available after suffering a torn Achilles tendon during the NBA Finals. 2025 second-round pick Kam Jones sustained a back injury a couple of days ago and is slated to miss significant time. Now, veteran and key backup point guard T.J. McConnell is going to miss time.
According to Pacers coach Rick Carlisle, McConnell will be out at least a month due to a left hamstring injury. McConnell suffered the injury during Indiana’s 135-134 overtime preseason opening win over Minnesota. He has been a rock off the bench for the Pacers over the last several years, and was expected to see an uptick in floor time with Haliburton being out.
McConnell looked good against the Timberwolves, tallying seven points as he made all three of his shots while also doling out three assists. McConnell is slated to be the Pacers’ primary backup to Andrew Nembhard, but now it appears he won’t be on the floor in a game until mid-November. That is, of course, if he is cleared in a month, as he will need a week or so to ramp up.
Besides announcing McConnell’s injury, the Pacers also disclosed that they signed Cam Payne to a training camp deal. Payne has been on the open market since July 1 after his one-year contract with New York ran out. He struggled last season with the Knicks, averaging 6.9 points and 2.8 assists while shooting 40.1/36.3/90.7.
Payne replaces Delon Wright on Indiana’s 21-man roster. Wright was competing for a roster spot with the Pacers and was projected to be the team’s third point guard. However, the 33-year-old suffered a nasty head injury just four minutes into his preseason debut.
Wright signed an Exhibit 9 deal with the Pacers. An Exhibit 9 contract is a nonguaranteed contract that protects the team in case of an injury. He did say he was okay on X.
“Thanks to everyone who prayed or sent get-well wishes my way!,” Wright tweeted. “Yes that was a brutal hit I took but, I am doing good just 10 stitches above my eye and 4 on my elbow.”
Payne is expected to earn the Pacers’ 15th roster spot and serve as Nembhard’s primary backup while McConnell is sidelined, per Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star. He is an experienced guard who has primarily been a third point guard throughout his career.
Payne is a scoring point guard who can create his own shot and is at his best in the paint and mid-range. Payne is a solid facilitator, has improved as a shooter, and doesn’t turn the ball over. For his career, the 31-year-old averages 7.8 points, 3.1 assists, and 1.1 turnovers. Additionally, he knocks down 1.3 threes while shooting 40.1/36.3/90.7.
“It just didn’t work out with Delon,” Carlisle said, per Dopirak. “Cam’s here. We’ve seen a lot of Cam the last two years with Milwaukee and New York. He’s a guy we always had to account for in scouts and what not. It’s a great opportunity for him.”
“His speed, his long-range shooting ability is high level,” Carlisle said when asked what he likes about Payne’s game. “He’s experienced, knows the game, has a good feel, and he’s a play-maker.”
Including Haliburton, the Pacers have 15 players on standard contracts with a cap hit of $181.8 million. Thus, putting the Pacers $6.0 million below the luxury tax and $14.1 million below the hard cap at the first apron.
In addition to owning the two full exceptions (Mid-level and bi-annual), the Pacers have a $14.1 million Disabled Player Exception for Haliburton. The Pacers can use the DPE in trades or free-agent signings, most likely if a player is bought out, but they will need to use it before March 10.
In terms of the here and now, James Wiseman and Tony Bradley are the other two players competing for a spot on the 15-man roster. Wiseman has a small guarantee ($100,000) while Bradley is fully nonguaranteed. The big men are also competing for minutes at the five.
With Myles Turner in Milwaukee, the center position is a primary battle in training camp. However, Dopirak, in an article yesterday, believes Isaiah Jackson has the inside track to be the starter. Jackson started the preseason opener and has spent most of the time with the first unit. But Jackson only played nine minutes as he got into early foul trouble. The 23-year-old center, who has started 31 career games, finished the game with two points, both from the field goal line, and three boards.
Jackson is a physical presence in the low-post, known for his explosive athleticism and shot-blocking ability.
“I can use my weight,” Jackson told Dopirak about his conditioning and recovery from a torn right Achilles tendon. “I was always physical, but I couldn’t move guys how I wanted to. Now I can bump people and move people out of the way, and I don’t really feel affected by it. Strength wise, I can play defense a little better. I can hold my own.“
If Jackson does start, Jay Huff will likely be the first center off the bench. Huff, acquired in a summer trade from Memphis, saw the most minutes of the four players against Minnesota. The 27-year-old, who has started two career games, tallied six points along with three boards and two blocks in 19 minutes.
Huff, coming off a career season, has the main attributes of rim protection and stretching the floor. He also moves well for a big guy.
Wiseman is believed to have an edge over Bradley for the third center spot; therefore, the upper hand in terms of making the team. The former #2 overall pick, who is still just 24 and has 148 games of NBA experience, is a gifted scorer and rebounder. However, defense and consistency are issues.
On Tuesday, Wiseman scored five points on 2 of 2 shooting and grabbed four boards (three offensive). He also recorded two assists and one turnover in 15 minutes. However, he turned the ball over three times and posted a minus-17 plus/minus rating.
Meanwhile, Bradley only saw five minutes in the preseason opener. Bradley didn’t score, though he did collect two rebounds during his time on the court. The 27-year-old is a bruiser and fantastic rebounder. But foul trouble and health concerns are his most significant issues.
Per Doperik, in yet another article, Bradley knows he is fighting for a job and is determined to do all he can to remain in the NBA after spending two full years out of the league.
“I stayed motivated ever since I went down to the G League and came up,” Bradley said. “My whole mindset is just different, how I see everything. I’m very motivated, always.”
Indiana has other battles to watch as the team heads into the final stretch of training camp. Besides the center position, the primary struggle is for playing time with the second unit.
Starters
PG: Andrew Nembhard
SF: Aaron Nesmith
C: Isaiah Jackson
6th Man: Obi Toppin
7th: Cam Payne/ TJ McConnell: McConnell will take over backup point guard duties when he returns.
8th: Jarace Walker: Walker or Shepard will be the first wing off the bench. But both will have a significant role with the second unit.
9th: Jay Huff
10th: Ben Sheppard: Sheppard will likely see some time at the point.
11th: Johnny Furphy: Furphy, who averaged eight minutes over 50 appearances last season, will have a more consistent role this season as he has a lot of upside. The 20-year-old combo forward had 12 in the preseason opener.
12th: James Wiseman
13th-14th: RayJ Dennis and Taelon Peter: Dennis and Peter are likely battling for the team’s fifth guard spot. Both players are on two-way deals.
Dennis may have the edge due to his ability to play the one and his 11 games of NBA experience. Dennis produced 16 points and five assists in the preseason opener.
While Peter is more of a developmental player, he had a good Summer League and was impressive in his NBA preseason debut. He had 10 points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block in 28 minutes against Minnesota.
15th: Quenton Jackson: Jackson, also on a 2-way deal, has 40 games of NBA experience and will see time with the Pacers this year.
16th: Kam Jones: Jones is expected to miss several weeks and will likely start the season with the Pacers G-League team, Noblesville Boom.
Indiana is not expected to be a playoff team, though they could challenge for a Play-In spot. Even though a major trade is not expected, the Pacers do have young talent to do so.
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