In a somewhat unexpected turn of events, the Pacers have elevated guard T.J. McConnell to questionable status for the upcoming game against Philadelphia on Tuesday, as per the team’s latest tweet.
As the season approaches its conclusion and with Indiana far from contention in the playoff race, it was widely believed that McConnell’s season was done for. McConnell’s campaign was disrupted back in early December by a surgical procedure to repair a torn scapholunate ligament in his dominant hand.
Before the injury setback, McConnell had featured in 23 games in the current season, posting averages of 8.4 points, 4.8 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.0 steal in 24.2 minutes per game. He committed to a new contract with Indiana during the offseason, sealing a four-year agreement valued at close to $34 million. After spending his initial four seasons with the Sixers, he had become a vital bench player for the Pacers in the two preceding seasons.
The return of McConnell might simply be a test run to assess the condition of his wrist, yet there could be an underlying strategy at play. Given the presence of numerous other guards on the team, including rising sophomores Tyrese Haliburton and Chris Duarte, Indiana might be using McConnell as a tool to attract interest from teams seeking an experienced guard in the upcoming off-season.
Image Source: T.J. McConnell @ Instagram
