3. The Bulls get a gem at a bargain bin price
Trading for a player like T.J. McConnell is exactly the type of low-risk move I’ve come to expect from the Bulls these days. With glaring holes all over the roster, a move like this feels about the same as using band-aids to stop the leaks in a sinking ship.
I firmly believe if the Bulls wish to be taken seriously, they must commit hard in either direction — push the chips all in for a true difference-maker (Brooklyn has made at least two available in trade talks this year alone), or blow it all up and commit to a rebuild.
… All that being said, the Bulls could sure do a lot worse than acquiring McConnell at the deadline.
T.J. McConnell continues to be one of the NBA’s most underappreciated players and deserves the spotlight only the Chicago Bulls can offer.
T.J. proved just what he’s capable of late last month when he received the starting nod following Tyrese Haliburton’s injury. In the four games he started and logged over 30 minutes, McConnell averaged a ridiculous 18.5 points, 9.8 assists, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per game while shooting 68.8% from the field. Obviously, if he were to come to Chicago he wouldn’t have as much usage, but he could still be enough to tilt games in the Bulls’ favor with his two-way play.
As good as McConnell has been good for the Pacers, there’s no ignoring the fact that he’s a few months removed from turning 31 years old. With Tyrese Haliburton leading the youth movement in Indiana, it would be better to swap him for a player that better fits their timeline. Especially with Andrew Nembhard looking much better than expected, this would shore up the loss of McConnell’s presence and form a very solid three-guard rotation.
Due to earn just $8.7 million next season with his contract non-guaranteed in 2024-25, McConnell could prove to be an extremely high-value player while only occupying a small fraction of the payroll, very similar to Chicago’s own Alex Caruso.