JULY 29: Nearly four weeks after agreeing to terms with him, the Pacers have officially signed McConnell, the team confirmed today (via Twitter).
JULY 3: The Pacers have reached an agreement to sign free agent point guard T.J. McConnell, a league source tells ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link). According to Wojnarowski (via Twitter), it’ll be a two-year, $7MM deal.
McConnell, who went undrafted out of Arizona in 2015, caught on with the Sixers and spent his first four NBA seasons in Philadelphia before becoming an unrestricted free agent this summer.
In 2018/19, McConnell averaged 6.4 PPG, 3.4 APG, and 2.3 RPG while shooting a career-high 52.5% from the floor in 76 games (19.3 MPG). However, the 27-year-old fell out of Philadelphia’s rotation in the postseason, logging just 18 total minutes in the club’s seven-game series vs. Toronto.
With Darren Collison retiring and Cory Joseph heading to Sacramento this offseason, the Pacers have addressed the point guard position by agreeing to acquire Malcolm Brogdon in a sign-and-trade, coming to terms on a new deal with Edmond Sumner, and now reaching an agreement with McConnell. Last year’s first-round pick Aaron Holiday is also on track to return to help fill out the depth chart.
As ESPN’s Bobby Marks observes (via Twitter), the Pacers projected to have a little over $5MM available in cap room before their deal with McConnell. He could be signed using some of that space, or the team could wait and fit his contract into its $4.8MM room exception.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Another one bites the dust. Lakers will be in a real bind when Kawhi resigns in Toronto.
Not really they could just resign two of their guys and be ok
Not really. For the Lakers it’s either Klaw or Boogie. They’re going to get 1 of them. Clips are going to get the other.
Uhh, no. Kawhi is going back to the raps first of all. Secondly, having to resort to sign boogie after missing out on literally every single target they had going into free agency would be the definition of being in a bind. He’s not that good.
Healthy DMC is better than Kawhi FYI
I would of love TJ. But I’m ok with rondo and Caruso at PG
Pacers now have T.J. Leaf, T.J. Warren & T.J. McConnell. Maybe former Pacer T.J. Ford could be a coach?
Nice one!
I too was hoping he’d land in LA, but the Pacers have made some nice moves and he’ll have an opportunity to play and contribute.
As for the Lakers, now hoping they’ll consider signing a young point guard like Tyrus Jones.
Yah that’s what I was thinking.
Tyus Jones and Quinn Cook
KCP and Lance Stevenson
JaVale McGee and Jamal Crawford
Kenneth Faried and Danny Green
And that’s not to mention Melo…
there’s dudes out there they can sign to fill the roster around LeBron and AD even if Kawhi goes somewhere else. Not saying those dudes r great but they can atleast still play enough to help out
Plus Kelly Oubre and Jabari Parker r still on the board if they want to take a flyer on a young bench piece. Rondo will more then likely be back as well
Kelly oubre is restricted
While Vic is injured at the start of the season. Brogdan will start with Lamb and have McConnell playing back up and Holiday waiting to get some mins. I like what the Pacers have done. Brought in a few young interesting players on cheap ish deals. None of the players they have got have a big obvious hole in their game and all could have really good seasons. Think they should look for maybe a SF or PF that’s strong on defence and a good locker room player. Maybe Rondae Hollis-Jefferson or Luc Mbah a Moute
Oconnell was not near as influential in the last playoffs as in 2018, presumably because Butler appeared to be doing the PG functions. Overall TJOC levelled off. But Butler is gone, and still no true PG in Philly (unless I’m forgetting something from all the hurly-burly). So getting a rival’s default PG is a good move by Indy.
Quinn Cook, RRondo left, Delon Wright & Tyus Jones RFA.
What about Big Ben???
Pacers must think Holliday was a mistake. They are spending to bring these guards ahead of him.
i think its more making him prove he is ready. he can play both guard spots so there are plenty of minutes if he earns them
Agree. Plus they needed a “pure” pointguard on the bench.
such a great signing
I like all these Laker comments. BTW McConnell has a nice haircut.