On Friday, the Indiana Pacers and guard T.J. McConnell agreed to a four-year contract extension. This move capped off what has been a solid offseason for the Pacers so far.
The Pacers made very few external moves this summer. However, that does not mean they were not busy. This summer, the Pacers re-signed Pascal Siakam, Obi Toppin, and James Johnson in free agency. Furthermore, they signed breakout guard Andrew Nembhard to a multi-year contract extension.
With their latest move, all of Indiana's key players, besides Myles Turner, are under contract past the 2024-25 season.
Extending McConnell was an easy decision for the Pacers. He is a great veteran presence whose gritty playstyle makes him a valuable player on the court. Many would say he is the best backup point guard in the league, and he has done a great job in Indiana since joining the team in 2019.
Keeping McConnell around for the long run was a no-brainer. However, this offseason signals something deeper for the Pacers.
The Pacers bringing back their same core from last season means that they believe they can contend for a championship with this team. And based off what we have seen recently, this could turn out to be the right call.
The T.J. McConnell extension indicates that the Pacers feel they are a championship-caliber team with their current core
Last season was the Pacers' most successful campaign in a decade. They finished with a 47-35 record, their best since the 2018-19 season, and made an Eastern Conference Finals appearance for the first time since 2014.
The Pacers are currently led by All-NBA guard Tyrese Haliburton, who has only gotten better since joining the league in 2020. The sky is the limit for the 24-year-old, and as long he continues to develop, he is a future star in the NBA.
Additionally, the Pacers' mid-season trade for Siakam earlier this year is likely to pay dividends. He helped the team reach the next level and has been the perfect secondary star next to Haliburton.
Furthermore, the team is filled with solid players who are constantly getting better, especially players like Nembhard, Toppin, Aaron Nesmith, and Bennedict Mathurin.
There is a lot to be excited about in Indiana. Whether that will culminate in an NBA championship anytime soon remains to be seen.