Indiana Pacers Guard T.J. McConnell Could Receive A Contract Extension Soon

After a career season for McConnell, the Pacers might offer him a contract extension

After making the playoffs for the first time since 2020, the Indiana Pacers are optimistic about their future.

They recently offered Andrew Nembhard a three-year contract extension but reserve point guard T.J. McConnell is also eligible for an extension. As of right now, he is under a four-year contract that comes to an end after the 2024-25 season. Once his contract expires, he will become an unrestricted free agent for the third time in his career.

After going undrafted in the 2015 NBA draft, McConnell signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, with whom he averaged 6.4 points, 4.7 assists and 1.3 steals a game. After four years with them, he signed with the Pacers in July 2019.

Upon his arrival to Indiana, McConnell started showing major improvement in his role. In just his second year there, he logged in 8.6 points, as well as 6.6 assists and 1.9 steals. Although he didn’t achieve any awards, he managed to finish 11th in the Sixth Man of the Year award voting and 19th in Most Improved Player voting.

It was last year when he had his most impressive performances. In the 74 games he played, he averaged a career-high 10.2 points, along with 5.5 assists and 1.0 steals. His efforts allowed him to finish seventh in the Sixth Man of the Year award voting.

His awe-inspiring outing carried on into the postseason as he finished with career-high averages of 11.8 points, 5.1 assists and 0.9 steals. Along with that, his assist average was the most by any reserve player in the playoffs.

The Pacers should consider keeping McConnell

Aside from the standard numbers, the main reason the Pacers should hold onto McConnell is because of what he contributes to the team. Last season, the Pacers’ bench was fourth in the NBA in 3-point shooting with a percentage of 38.1%, mostly due to McConnell’s long-range abilities. He shot 40.9% from beyond the arc, the second straight season finishing with a percentage of 40% or higher.

With the recent season McConnell and the Pacers had, there is a good chance he could be offered an extension in the near future.

Cory Nelson is a contributor to Fansided’s Wiz of Awes. He attended Northern Virginia Community College. He can be reached at corymckenzienelson@hotmail.com or follow him on Twitter @CKenzyNelson, Instagram @ckenzynelson, and Threads @ckenzynelson