The Indiana Pacers have started off their campaign winless through two games. While that definitely is not ideal in most situations, the franchise is not aching as much as it normally would, especially with the team considering this current season as a year of developing their young guns for a brighter future.
However, a quick glance at the Pacers’ roster will not necessarily give off the impression of a team looking to build from zero, as the squad is still home to some veterans who arguably make a lot more sense on win-now franchises. That is the reason why most fans and pundits alike are expecting Indiana to eventually dangle away their veterans at least before the trade deadline.
The Indiana Pacers will likely part with one of their veteran holdovers as they rebuild for the future
One of those veterans whom the Pacers will benefit from putting into the trading block is TJ McConnell. One of the inarguable fan favorites in the Circle City since donning the Blue and Gold, the sneaky point guard is now playing for his third head coach with the same team, a testament to his valuable utility notwithstanding the shift in coaching philosophies.
However, with Tyrese Haliburton leading the way and rookie playmaker Andrew Nembhard already looking capable of running the second unit, the veteran floor general’s value is now far from indispensable within the team. Hence, these two mock trades from Bleacher Report have the Pacers getting great value at the cost of their beloved camper.
The Indiana Pacers get even younger and bolster their backcourt
Since getting selected as the seventh overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls, Coby White has managed to avoid any kind of nosedive. However, that he has managed to stave off any substantial decline may not be enough for a Bulls team looking to cement their spot in the playoff picture.
Lonzo Ball is clearly the desired point guard in Chicago, and while he’s absent due to injury, White is far from being a true distributor. So far, the combo guard has only peaked at 4.8 assists per game, a mark he only reached during the 2020-21 season when he was a full-time starter. Even without Ball, he has only been relegated to second-unit duty, and that makes him a lot more dispensable, especially with the Bulls badly needing secondary facilitation.
This is where TJ McConnell could prove to be an enticing option for Chicago. Even with a healthy Ball and the rising Ayo Dosunmu, the Bulls will be well-served having a change-of-pace floor general like McConnell who can push the ball in transition, giving them a much-needed alternative from the constant half-court sets which are heavily dependent on DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine’s iso-ball expertise.
The Indiana Pacers expand their crest of draft capital
Unlike the previous mock trade, the Indiana Pacers bolster their transactional board and prioritize draft capital in this deal with the Toronto Raptors while shedding off salary owed to TJ McConnell. After all, getting two second-rounders for a backup will never be a bad move in any shape, way, or form.
While the Pacers have no direct use for Khem Birch, landing him as the salary-matcher in this deal will give them the sufficient positional fallback they need should they eventually pull the trigger on a widely-expected Myles Turner trade. Better yet, Birch’s salary is not particularly difficult to move, and contenders in need of a boost in the frontcourt could line up for his services.
In return, the Raptors acquire perhaps the perfect backup to Fred VanVleet who should be able to thrive in their disruptive defensive schemes. In addition, McConnell is familiar with some of Toronto’s playbook, as he was one of the few who actually flourished under former Pacers coach Nate Bjorkgren, now an assistant under Nick Nurse.