What is T.J. Warren worth, and what is he worth to the Indiana Pacers?

What is T.J. Warren worth?

An extension of four years, $70 million would put Warren’s average annual salary at about $17.5 million. Without context, that doesn’t mean very much. However, the free agency period of 2020 brought a few contracts signed by players with a similar skillset at a similar stage in their career that can be used as a reference point.

As Pacers fans well know, 30 year old Gordon Hayward signed a four year deal for $30 million a year. Other deals include 26 year old Jerami Grant and 32 year old Danillo Gallinari signing three year deals for $20 million a year, and 31 year old Marcus Morris signing a four year deal for $16m a year.

But if we compare all those players to T.J. Warren, who will be 29 when he is a free agent in 2022, there is a legitimate argument that Warren is the most complete player of that group when factoring in age, offense, defense, and health.

T.J. is a much better defender than Gallinari, a more complete and selfless player than Morris, and has less significant injury concern than Hayward. Grant is the only player younger than what Warren will be at the time of his potential signing, but Warren is more versatile offensive player than Grant. All of this together makes it unclear if Warren will look for an extension when he can become a free agent and likely command a deal in the $20 million range.

So then the question becomes: What is T.J. Warren worth to the Pacers?