Indiana Pacers: Complete grades for the 2019 NBA offseason
By Fox Doucette
Signed T.J. McConnell
T.J. McConnell is Aaron Holiday insurance for the Indiana Pacers. At two years and $7 million, he’s a known commodity in case Holiday’s development stalls and the 2018 23rd overall pick — who shot just 33.9 percent from long range in his rookie year — can’t find his shot.
McConnell can’t shoot from long range either — 33.3 percent last season and 33.5 percent for his career — but he’s a much better finisher at the rim, so if the Pacers can spring him on a fast break or draw up a backdoor cut for him, he finished 69.1 percent of his shots inside three feet and shot 54.6 percent overall on 2-point shots.
If — when — Malcolm Brogdon gets hurt, McConnell is likely to see minutes with the second unit rotation players and possibly even get a few spot starts if the Pacers don’t want to trust Jeremy Lamb to play the point.
As such, he’s good enough that the Pacers won’t be playing 4-on-5 offensively and fits nicely into a playmaker role, where he’ll probably get better shooting looks than he got in Philadelphia.
He’s not great, but for $3.5 million a year, he doesn’t have to be. It’s a nice little pickup to round out the roster, and McConnell has missed just 14 games in four NBA seasons so he’s one fewer injury worry.