Should the Pacers pick up McConnell’s option?
By ALEX GOLDEN (@AlexGoldenNBA)
ISL Contributor
The Indiana Pacers have a decision to make on backup point guard TJ McConnell. He has a team option for $3.5M. If the Pacers decline the option, they’ll still owe him $1M this upcoming season.
McConnell was clearly a huge part of the bench’s success this season, but his presence was completely absent in the playoffs. Will that change their future plans?
First and foremost, the Pacers have to hire a coach before they decide on McConnell. The style of basketball the Pacers envision playing will determine how valuable McConnell is to them on the court. If they go with a coach who runs a modernized offense, the new head coach may have a hard time playing McConnell, since he went just 5-of-17 from three this season. If Indiana decided to go with a defensive minded coach, McConnell could fill the same role he played last year.
Offensively, we know McConnell thrives at getting into the paint and looking for the open cutter or shooter. He also has perfected the leaning jumper, that he takes quite often. He’s a pest on defense and will guard opposing players 94-feet on a random night in January. Even when he has a bad match-up, McConnell brings energy 100 percent of the time. You never have to ponder if McConnell is ready to play.
The only other knock on McConnell besides his three point shooting, is his size. He’s a smaller guard and lengthy guards can impact his game. In the playoffs this year, we saw how Miami’s length was a major factor in him not having success. Miami’s defense held McConnell to just 3-of-8 shooting over three games, and former Coach Nate McMillan decided to bench McConnell in Game 4, because of his ineffectiveness.
Playing McConnell significant minutes in the regular season was the right decision by McMillan, but it also took minutes away from other Pacers guards, who could’ve used that time to develop. Aaron Holiday was never given the chance to run the offense with the second unit, but played more in the wing position. I think Aaron is too small to play the wing, and would benefit from getting reps playing the one. Edmond Sumner is the other guard whose minutes would have increased if McConnell hadn’t played so well for the Pacers.
Again, playing McConnell over these two was the right call last season, and McConnell served as an incredible leader for both of them. Multiple times throughout the season you would see McConnell coaching and encouraging these young players when the time was right. He never overstepped his boundaries and provided incredible leadership.
I believe that McConnell is an incredible glue guy for the continuity that Kevin Pritchard mentioned he wanted. Pritchard had high praise for McConnell in his season ending presser, saying: “If there was one play that was a highlight of the season, it was the McConnell play,” Pritchard said. “He made a great play, made a diving pass, and the bench erupted. That’s the kind of toughness you are looking for.” Even if McConnell isn’t impacting the Pacers on the court, his value comes mostly from his leadership. He would be a terrific third string point guard if the Pacers suffer any injuries. He’s a devoted teammate and a highly respected individual. Cutting him to save $2.5M this season would be a bad move, because McConnell exemplifies what it means to be a professional in the NBA.
