Report: Pacers have denied all trade requests for veteran guard
By Jack Simone
As trade season looms closer and closer, the Indiana Pacers could end up being one of the top buyers at the deadline. They should be looking to add talent next to Tyrese Haliburton.
Guys like Pascal Siakam and Kyle Kuzma could be potential targets for the Pacers as the trade deadline approaches, but as is the case with anybody the Pacers look to trade for, they’ll have to give up some serious assets.
Buddy Hield’s contract makes him a near-lock to be thrown into any big-time trade Indiana makes, but past that, they could have to include even more salary to get up near a max contract.
Another guy who could be looked at as a potential throw-in is veteran point guard TJ McConnell, but according to a recent report, that’s not how the Pacers are treating him.
During a recent appearance on the “No Cap Room” podcast, Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports stated that Indiana has turned away any potential offers they’ve gotten for McConnell.
“I do know so far Indiana has pretty much rebuffed any teams interest in TJ McConnell,” Fischer said. He also noted that Hield is officially available for trade.
At the beginning of the season, head coach Rick Carlisle revealed that he had a tough conversation with McConnell about potentially not being in the Pacers’ rotation, but that hasn’t been the case.
McConnell has appeared in 27 games, playing 15.4 minutes per game this year. He’s averaging 7.6 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 5.0 assists while shooting 53.9% from behind the three-point line.
The veteran point guard makes $8.7 million this season and a non-guaranteed $9.3 million next year, making him a very tradable contract for teams looking to add depth at the point guard spot.
Perhaps more important than his counting stats is the hustle impact McConnell brings to the court. Whenever he steps on the hardwood, McConnell is constantly being a pest, getting in passing lanes, and diving on the floor to make winning plays.
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He’s the type of player that any contending team would want to add to their group, but with Indiana looking to make a push for the postseason, they clearly want to keep him around.