Whenever a team battles injuries and absences it creates opportunity for someone further down the roster, and in Indiana the Pacers’ backcourt absences last season opened the door for TJ McConnell to take on a larger role and he took full advantage of that chance.

The former Sixers guard became one of the NBA’s best defensive pests, ripping away 1.9 steals per game (including a game with 9 in the first half) and had his best offensive season of his career with 8.6 points, 6.6 assists, and 3.7 rebounds per game on 55.9/31.3/68.8 shooting. That field goal percentage was the best of his career, as his finishing took a marked leap and that was critical to his ability to be impactful on both ends of the floor, thus allowing the Pacers to increase his minutes. This offseason featured a robust point guard market, but for teams needing a quality defensive reserve guard who could capably run the offense, McConnell figured to be a top target for those not looking to break the bank.