Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell has established himself as perhaps the biggest X-factor of any team in this year’s NBA Playoffs.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Backing up All-NBA guard Tyrese Haliburton, McConnell’s scrappy and savvy play has made him one of the funnest players to watch in the Pacers’ run to the Eastern Conference Finals.
While McConnell did not get the start for the injured Haliburton in Game 3’s 114-111 loss to the Boston Celtics Saturday, he had one of the best games of his career. The University of Arizona product and nine-year NBA veteran recorded 23 points on 10-of-17 shooting, nine rebounds and six assists in 29 minutes, but Indiana fell down 3-0.
It has long been reported that the Phoenix Suns have had interest in McConnell, who is averaging 11.6 points and 5.1 assists in 16 games this postseason. Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer reports the interest was very prevalent this season.
“He has one year remaining beyond this season on his current deal, an attractive salary as league executives view McConnell as one of the best reserves in the league,” Fischer wrote. “His value contract, in addition to his endless battery, most notably drew trade inquiries from the Phoenix Suns throughout this past season, league sources told Yahoo Sports.”
Instead of McConnell, the Suns traded for Royce O’Neale and David Roddy at the deadline in exchange for Jordan Goodwin, Chimezie Metu, Keita Bates-Diop, Yuta Watanabe and three second-round picks and a pick swap.
In terms of salary matches, this trade would have worked for McConnell instead of O’Neale as well. McConnell made $8.7 million this season, while O’Neale was on the last season of a four-year deal, making $9.3 million.
The Pacers declined all offers and now McConnell’s play has helped Indiana make their first conference finals in 10 years, while the Suns were swept in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Anyone that watches the Pacers could see the immediate impact McConnell brings when he steps on the floor, and this is exactly what the Suns were missing from any player off the bench. Even more so than this, he could have been the point guard that they never ended up having.
Who's giving TJ McConnell the max? pic.twitter.com/ZypOBWPs7q
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) May 26, 2024
However, the Pacers saw his value, and it has paid off big time for them in the playoffs.
Just last week, Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey named McConnell a “dream” candidate for the Suns to acquire this offseason.
“The Suns are about as leveraged as any team in the league right now, but they do have some movable first-rounders and have shown interest in former Arizona Wildcat T.J. McConnell before,” Bailey wrote. “He’s not as tenacious a defender as (Kris) Dunn, but he’s a better distributor and shooter.”
McConnell is due $9.3 million next season. Currently, only $5 million of that is guaranteed, but his contract becomes fully guaranteed if not waived the day after the 2024 draft (June 28), per HoopsHype. In all likelihood, the Pacers will do anything to keep McConnell given how good he has been in the playoffs.
Phoenix has all of its starting five under contract for next season and is projected to have the highest payroll in the NBA next season at $209 million, severely limiting the team in terms of moves and trades it can make. With their projected payroll, the Suns will be operating over the second-tax apron next season, which is estimated to be $190 million.
In this threshold, Phoenix is unable to sign free agents outside of the Suns to anything other than veteran-minimum contracts. In terms of trades, the Suns will not be able to take in more salary than they send out, include cash in deals, aggregate contracts or use a preexisting trade exception.
This means the only realistic trade option for the Suns would be Jusuf Nurkić, who will make $18.1 million in the 2024-25 season. They could offer Nurkić and potentially a first-round pick for McConnell and/or other assets. The Suns gain the ability trade this year’s No. 22 overall pick, as well as their 2031 first-round pick on draft day (June 26).
From the eye test, McConnell appears to clearly fill a lot of holes that the Suns had this season.
Is McConnell the “dream” player the Suns are missing?
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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
