Last week, the Indiana Pacers officially agreed to a three-year, $59 million contract extension with guard Andrew Nembhard. The 24-year-old is coming off arguably his best stretch of NBA basketball after the 2024 NBA Playoffs.
In the Pacers' surprise run to the Eastern Conference Finals, Nembhard averaged 14.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game. Additionally, he shot 56% from the field and 48.3% from the three-point line.
Extending Nembhard was a no-brainer for the Pacers. He is developing into at least a potential All-Star and is building a reputation is a playoff performer. Additionally, he has just finished his second season in the NBA and has already been selected to represent Team Canada during the 2024 Olympics. However, there is one potential downside to his extension.
Nembhard was not the only Pacers guard to have an impressive playoff performance. Additionally, veteran guard T.J. McConnell acted as a bit of a playoff hero during Indiana's postseason run. In the playoffs, McConnell averaged 11.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game all off the bench.
In Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics, McConnell scored 23 points on 10-for-17 shooting, grabbed nine rebounds, and recorded six assists. After his performance, Celtics star and eventual NBA Finals MVP compared McConnell's to basketball legend Michael Jordan.
“They was just flying around and shooting the ball well. Some of those guys turned into Michael Jordan or whatever and we was like, 'Man, what is going on?'," Brown said.
Jaylen Brown: When I was talking about guys being Michael Jordan, TJ McConnell was who I was talking about.
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) May 28, 2024
McConnell has spent the last five seasons of his career with the Pacers and is one of the best backup guards in the league. However, he has one year remaining on his four-year, $33.6 million contract. After a career year and Nembhard's extension, it is fair to think the 32-year-old could leave the Pacers next summer to pursue a bigger contract and/or role.
The Pacers and T.J. McConnell were working on a contract extension in June
Last month, The Athletic's Shams Charania reported that the Pacers and McConnell were exploring a contract extension.
"The Pacers are working to extend T.J. McConnell. That is someone they want around for the long haul, no question."
— csb (@itsCSB__) June 21, 2024
- Shams Charania via .@PatMcAfeeShow pic.twitter.com/JH7I4k9W5p
With Nembhard's recent extension, it is unknown if this changes the Pacers' plans to extend McConnell for the long-term future. Regardless, it is clear the Pacers value the veteran guard's presence and would like to keep him around.