Report: Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell is on Phoenix Suns radar as trade target
According to a report published by Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, the Phoenix Suns have Indiana Pacers point guard T.J. McConnell on their radar as a trade target.
The report, which details much of what Fischer is hearing about transactional buzz in Las Vegas during NBA Summer League, can be read in full here. As for McConnell, here is what Fischer reported.
"Phoenix has continued to explore trade scenarios regarding reserve guard Cam Payne, league sources told Yahoo Sports, and Indiana point guard T.J. McConnell has been one player on the Suns' radar," Fischer's report states. "There was some talk around Summer League about a developing multi-team trade discussion. Maybe there’s some business to be done with the Knicks."
McConnell for Payne is a legal trade, but not one that is good for the Pacers unless other assets are included. Phoenix doesn't have many other assets, though, so it makes sense why such a deal could become a multi-team trade, as Fischer reported. The Knicks are approaching the luxury tax and may want to make a cost-cutting move.
McConnell is currently in an interesting spot for the blue and gold. He had a solid 2022-23 campaign, averaging a career-high 8.7 points per game and pairing it with 5.3 assists per night. His three-point shot developed, and that led to a career-best true shooting percentage figure (59.0%). His pesky defense remained. All things considered, McConnell was a great backup point guard, and that was on top of his important role in the locker room.
But Indiana has a lot of guards and wings in the mix for minutes. Tyrese Haliburton is going to start at point guard. Bruce Brown, Buddy Hield, and Bennedict Mathurin are going to get playing time in the guard/wing spots. That's already four players in the backcourt rotation.
Andrew Nembhard is going to be in the rotation next year for the Pacers, too. He could be a backup at the point guard spot or be a reserve wing, and where he ends up could be critical for Indiana's rotation next season. He will play in some capacity either way, so that's five backcourt rotation players.
That doesn't leave much playing time left, and McConnell, Aaron Nesmith, and first-round draft pick Ben Sheppard still haven't been accounted for. Sheppard being outside of the mix in his first season makes sense, but one of McConnell or Nesmith not playing at all would be moteworthy after both were good for the blue and gold last year.
Nesmith played power forward on occasion last season, but the Pacers have acquired Jordan Nwora, Jarace Walker, and Obi Toppin all within the last five months. There aren't minutes at the four to be flexible any more. Someone, perhaps two someones, with talent is going to be outside of the rotation in the backcourt.
If that player is McConnell — with Nembhard assuming backup point guard duties — then it makes sense when the Pacers would consider moving him. But given his abilities and off-court importance, the price would have to be right.
The Knicks being included as a third team could be valuable since Indiana has cap space to make an imbalanced salary trade, if need be. New York is somewhat close to the luxury tax line, though they are currently in no danger of exceeding it.
There are many machinations of what a trade could actually look like, and that is if the Pacers are even considering it. With much of the NBA currently together in Las Vegas for Summer League, many moves could happen.
Fischer also touched on the latest regarding Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam and Indiana's place in that chatter. More on Siakam and the Pacers can be found here.
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