How valuable is T.J. Warren to the future of the Indiana Pacers?
To the average NBA fan, T.J. Warren may seem like the least important starter for the Indiana Pacers. He is flanked by two All-Stars in Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis, a fringe DPOY candidate and league-leading shot-blocker in Myles Turner, and a borderline All-Star in Malcolm Brogdon. Not only that, but Warren also has the lowest annual salary at $12 million this year compared to the rest of the starters being around $20million.
Yet most advanced metrics had Warren as the second-best player on the Pacers last year behind Sabonis, and we saw what he was able to do in the bubble as the first option. While advanced metrics aren’t everything, and he is definitely the least accomplished starter, he may be one of the most important Pacers because of the ceiling he showed at what I believe to be the most important position in the league.
Warren is under contract for two more years, and is eligible for an extension in the upcoming summer of 2021 for up to four years, $70 million. This is also the offseason when Victor Oladipo will be looking for his next contract, expecting a raise on his $21m a year to potentially that of a max deal.
So as we glance forward to what this team and its cap sheet may look like, it is important to consider what T.J. Warren is worth.
But more importantly: What is he worth to the Pacers?