One of the Indiana Pacers’ best bench players has reportedly popped on the trade radar of the Phoenix Suns.
The NBA Summer League is underway and the Indiana Pacers are doing well out in Las Vegas. Rookie Jarace Walker is looking like a fantastic draft selection. Meanwhile, Ben Sheppard got off to a slow start but seems to have found his groove. The best part is watching the rookies and getting an idea of who will be a success and who won’t.
Related: NBA trade tracker – NBA trades today with grades and analysis
Meanwhile, NBA teams are still working on filling out their rosters and/or reshaping them with trades. Toronto’s Pascal Siakam has recently been linked to the Indiana Pacers. And now the latest trade rumor involving the Blue and Gold is surrounding reserves ace TJ McConnell.
Making sense of the Indiana Pacers-TJ McConnell trade rumors
At first glance, a Cameron Payne for McConnell trade doesn’t make a lot of sense. The Pacers have made it known that they would like to bring veteran George Hill back. The thinking is Hill can be the long-standing veteran presence and voice for a young team. Think of the Udonis Haslem for Miami situation. So, just swapping one backup point guard for another wouldn’t help open up a roster spot for the return of Hill.
- TJ McConnell stats (’22-’23): 8.7 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 5.3 APG, 1.1 SPG, 44% 3PT
However, in trading McConnell for Payne the Pacers would save $2.2 million this year and at least $5 million guaranteed in the 2024-2025 season. Add in Tyrese Haliburton’s contract extension going into effect in the ‘24-’25 season, $35.5 million, and the list of the team’s free agents, and that savings will be useful. But would just saving the money be good enough of a return value?
The Indiana Pacers currently have a bit of a log jam in their backcourt with Bennedict Mathurin, Andrew Nembhard, Buddy Hield, Bruce Brown, and the aforementioned Sheppard, McConnell, and Haliburton. So, again, adding Payne wouldn’t alleviate that issue, which this trade a lateral move. And the team is going to have a hard time finding valuable minutes for Mathurin, Haliburton, Nembhard, Brown, and Hield.
This brings us to some reasons for why this trade would make sense for the Indiana Pacers. The first possibility — while unlikely — is Phoenix attaching some future draft picks with Payne. Phoenix is obviously in win-now mode and with their current roster, their next few years of picks appear to be outside of the lottery. So, you’re looking at 2027 as the earliest year that the draft picks could be parted with. While this might not be overly appealing to Pacers’ fans, it would be a good get in return compensation for McConnell.
Another possibility is the inclusion of a third team, one that could either use Payne or provide better return compensation. One other scenario is the Blue and Gold acquire Payne and then reroute him to another team in a separate trade.
See exclusive Sportsnaut videos on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.
The list of teams out there that would fit in either scenario is a little small. There is, of course, the possible inclusion of additional players. This of course could include the ever-popular trade targets of Hield and Myles Turner for Ayton. Regardless, this trade rumor needs some more meat on the bones in order for it to come to fruition.