INDIANAPOLIS — T.J. McConnell is still eligible for a contract extension for the Indiana Pacers, one of the biggest offseason checklist items left in the Circle City. The veteran guard is coming off of a career year and was a vital piece for Indiana’s top-tier bench.
Earlier in the offseason, reporting suggested that the prevailing notion around the NBA was that McConnell would get a longer deal with the blue and gold. He became eligible for an extension in early July.
“We’d love to keep T.J. as a Pacer for life,” Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan said during a radio interview earlier this offseason.
The 32-year old had a career year in 2023-24, averaging 10.2 points and 5.5 assists per game. That scoring number was his career high as he turned into an elite role player down the stretch of the campaign. His scoring and passing were at a peak level for over two months.
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His points average actually climbed in the postseason while his assist number essentially remained stable. On the biggest stages, he was even better. Nobody could stay in front of him as the Pacers raced to the Eastern Conference Finals.
“I think everybody saw his value throughout the year, over the last few years. But to see it really shine in the playoffs was something I think was a big goal for T.J., and he accomplished that this year,” Buchanan said. “To have him here long term, we’d love to keep T.J. as a Pacer for life. The business part eventually comes into play for everybody, but would hate to lose that guy.”
McConnell is important for the blue and gold beyond his production. He can run an up-tempo offense, which is vital for Indiana. They played fast and had a pace number near the top of the league. Tyrese Haliburton’s skills require a rapid offense. When the star guard exits the court, McConnell can maintain that system during his minutes, and the Pacers don’t miss a beat.
Indiana kept their offensive rating over 120 with McConnell on the floor without Haliburton, an impressive feat. It’s why the team had one of the best offenses in NBA history last season.
“Phenomenal year for T.J.,” Buchanan said. “I don’t know what you can say more about T.J., what he has meant to this team. Beloved by his teammates, his coaches, the staff, the fans. He’s what you want an Indiana Pacer to be about.”
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From the perspective of production and fit, keeping McConnell is a no brainer for the Pacers. But it’s about more than that. As the GM alluded to, the business part comes into play and makes things tricky.
Indiana is close to the luxury tax right now, and they currently project to be about $33 million away next offseason with Myles Turner, McConnell, Isaiah Jackson, and possibly others entering free agency. It will be tough for the blue and gold to keep their whole team together if they are set on staying under the tax line.
Of course, that restriction may not actually prevent Indiana from doing anything. They could just blow past the tax and keep whoever they want. But that’s an expensive decision, and their appetite for doing so may depend on how this season goes.
Additionally, McConnell turns 33 during the upcoming campaign. Modern NBA players can remain effective deeper into their 30s, but the age curve comes for everyone eventually. McConnell is a smaller guard, so his speed is a requirement.
McConnell’s value doesn’t end on the hardwood. He is a beloved teammate and veteran, and losing him would be a hit in the locker room. He’s a key piece for the blue and gold in every way.
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After his strong season, he’s eligible for a four year contract extension worth up to about $81 million. He will be eligible for a deal that fits within those parameters any time until free agency starts next summer, so the Pacers could, in theory, assess how he plays this season and fits into their finances after potential trades before agreeing to a deal.
Should McConell want an extension, locking it in sooner would be better for him. Securing guaranteed money ASAP is the best outcome for any NBA player. There are a lot of factors at play with a possible extension for McConnell.
The Pacers have kept their own players around via extensions often in the past five years. Perhaps they will again with McConnell, but timing, age, and finances make it fall just short of a no-brainer for Indiana.
New Orleans Pelicans (4-13, 15th in the Western Conference) vs. Indiana Pacers (7-10, ninth in the Eastern Conference)
Indianapolis; Monday, 7 p.m. EST
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BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Pacers -5.5; over/under is 228
BOTTOM LINE: New Orleans heads into the matchup against Indiana as losers of four straight games.
The Pacers are 5-2 in home games. Indiana ranks fifth in the league with 17.0 fast break points per game led by Bennedict Mathurin averaging 4.5.
The Pelicans have gone 1-7 away from home. New Orleans averages 14.2 turnovers per game and is 3-4 when turning the ball over less than opponents.
The Pacers are shooting 48.7% from the field this season, 0.2 percentage points higher than the 48.5% the Pelicans allow to opponents. The Pacers average 103.8 points per game, 14.3 fewer points than the 118.1 the Pacers allow to opponents.
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TOP PERFORMERS: Pascal Siakam is averaging 20.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Pacers.
Brandon Ingram is scoring 22.9 points per game and averaging 5.8 rebounds for the Pelicans.
LAST 10 GAMES: Pacers: 4-6, averaging 111.7 points, 38.9 rebounds, 26.1 assists, 9.0 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 47.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.5 points per game.
Pelicans: 1-9, averaging 100.2 points, 42.7 rebounds, 23.0 assists, 7.8 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 42.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.7 points.
INJURIES: Pacers: Aaron Nesmith: out (ankle), Andrew Nembhard: out (knee), Isaiah Jackson: out for season (calf), James Wiseman: out for season (calf), Ben Sheppard: out (oblique).
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Pelicans: Zion Williamson: out (hamstring), Yves Missi: day to day (shoulder), CJ McCollum: day to day (thigh), Herbert Jones: out (shoulder ), Dejounte Murray: day to day (hand), Jose Alvarado: out (hamstring).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
The Washington Wizards are still in the loss column after falling to the Indiana Pacers 115-103 inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday evening.
The Wizards remained competitive throughout the game, especially after the first half when they led by two points going into halftime.
However, the Pacers pulled ahead in the second half and were able to cruise to a double-digit victory.
The Pacers had seven players scoring in double figures, including a team-high 22 points from Pascal Siakam. Myles Turner had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
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The Wizards were sorely missing their leading scorer in Jordan Poole, who was ruled out prior to the game with a hip injury. That put Kyshawn George into the starting lineup, where he scored 15 points while grabbing five rebounds and dishing out five assists.
All five starters scored in double figures with Bilal Coulibaly and Alex Sarr scoring 17 points apiece for the team-high.
With 11 consecutive losses, the Wizards remain at the bottom of the NBA standings, but there are some positives that the team will walk away with.
The Wizards will look to snap their losing streak back at home on Tuesday against the Chicago Bulls.
Make sure you bookmark Washington Wizards on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!
It’s a day that ends in the letter ‘y,’ so Indy Star sports columnist Gregg Doyel is acting strange online. Thankfully, this scenario has nothing to do with him acting creepy towards WNBA star Caitlin Clark, but instead, centers around the Ohio State Buckeyes blowing out the Indiana Hoosiers on Saturday.
For anyone who may have forgotten, Doyel stole the show during Clark’s introductory press conference with the Indiana Fever by making the scene all about himself in one of the strangest moves ever seen in a media setting.
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Doyel introduced himself to Clark by saying “Real quick, let me do this,” before reportedly forming a heart with his hands, a gesture Clark does towards her family after games.
Clark replied by very awkwardly asking “You like that?” before things got even weirder.
“I like that you’re here. I like that you’re here,” Doyel responded. “Yeah, I do that at my family after every game, so it’s very cool,” Clark replied.
“Okay, start doing it to me, and we’ll get along just fine,” Doyel replied back.
Long story short, Doyel later apologized for his creepy actions but was ultimately suspended by the Indy Star for two weeks.
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Naturally, each time he shares his opinion on social media nowadays, he gets chirped into oblivion and Saturday was no exception.
Doyel took serious offense to Ohio State scoring a touchdown with 35 seconds left in regulation to ultimately cap off its win over Indiana 38-15. He specifically didn’t appreciate Ohio State quarterback Will Howard celebrating the nail-in-the-coffin touchdown by putting out a fake cigarette to mock Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti.
Doyel taking offense to a 23-year-old college quarterback celebrating a monumental win over an undefeated Indiana team is odd behavior, and folks in his mentions were sure to point out that fact.
Ohio State virtually guaranteed a spot in the College Football Playoff with the win over Indiana, and the Hoosiers should be safe as well, barring a colossal loss to Purdue to close out the regular season.
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