In what was an underrated move, the Indiana Pacers signed veteran point guard TJ McConnell to a four-year, $44.8 million contract extension last week.
On Tuesday, more details have emerged regarding his deal, painting his extension in a slightly different light. According to HoopsHype insider Michael Scotto, McConnell will only have a $5 million partial guarantee in the third year of his contract. Furthermore, the Pacers will hold a team option for the fourth season.
Indiana Pacers signed TJ McConnell to a 4-year, $44.8M extension, which includes a partial guarantee Year 3 and team option Year 4, league sources told @hoopshype Details below:
2025-26: $10.2M
2026-27: $11M
2027-28: $11.8M ($5M partial guarantee)
2028-29: $11.8M (Team option) pic.twitter.com/wwRo2ojmrg— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) September 3, 2024
McConnell averaged 10.2 points, 5.5 assists, and 1.0 steal per game while shooting 40.9 percent from 3 last season. He was particularly effective after the All-Star Break, averaging 13.8 points, 5.5 assists, and 1.0 steal per game while scorching the nets with 60.0 percent shooting from 3. A highly intelligent facilitator and pesky defender, he’s among the best backups in the league.
Though it comes with stipulations, his four-year extension is a display of the Pacers’ faith in and appreciation of him. It also might not have come at a better time.
What Pacers’ TJ McConnell’s Contract Extension Details Mean
With regard to the final two seasons of McConnell’s contract, the Pacers could just be protecting themselves from the side effects of an age-based decline. McConnell will turn 33 years old next March. He’ll be on the wrong side of 35 in 2027 and potentially in a decline.
However, the 2027 and 2028 free agent classes could also be a factor. Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, Los Angeles Lakers center Anthony Davis, Phoenix Suns wing Devin Booker, Miami Heat big man Bam Adebayo and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell are just a few players who may be on Indiana’s wishlist. McConnell may be good, but his salary shouldn’t stand between the Pacers and a perennial All-Star.
Of course, a couple of these players could be pipe dreams. To that point, Curry, Jokic, and Booker all genuinely seem like they want to play for one franchise their entire career. Curry and Davis will be well past their physical prime, the former perhaps even on the verge of retirement. However, if the Bucks, Heat or Cavs aren’t competitive enough, Antetokounmpo, Adebayo, and Mitchell could be realistic targets.
Also worth noting is that Pascal Siakam will be a free agent in 2028.
Traded to the Pacers last season, Siakam averaged 21.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game on 36.4 percent shooting from 3 after the 2024 All-Star Break. Not only is he a versatile scorer who takes plenty of pressure off of his teammates offensively, he’s developed a lot of chemistry with face of the franchise Tyrese Haliburton. With owners usually looking to cut costs, McConnell might be sacrificed to ease their future financial burden.
