Sixers 2017-18 Player Evaluation: T.J. McConnell

T.J. McConnell

Position: Point guard/shooting guard

Status for 2018-19: Team option will be exercised for $1,600,520

McConnell in 2017-18
Improbably, the undrafted McConnell has become an integral part of "The Process." He was certainly here in the dark days, sharing minutes with Kendall Marshall and Ish Smith and suffering through seemingly endless losing streaks - McConnell, Robert Covington and Richaun Holmes are the only survivors from the 10-win 2015-16 Sixers. This season, the fan-favorite guard was spearheading playoff victories.

McConnell's "spark," the unmatched passion and energy he brings every night, is what he's all about. It's why so many people love him. But his value lies beyond raw hustle and intensity - McConnell is the best Sixer off the bench at hounding opposing guards and probing the paint. He forces you to play him.

This season, he also forced opponents to respect his shot. After making just 20 percent of his three-point attempts in 2016-17, McConnell worked on his jumper in the summer and saw results, shooting 43.5 percent from long range.

When Markelle Fultz made his surprise return to the lineup on March 26, McConnell nearly dropped out of the rotation - he played just 14.5 minutes per game in the final 10 regular-season games. Still, McConnell has always been supportive of Fultz, and he didn't get discouraged - when you've had to live through one of the worst seasons in NBA history, it takes something bigger than diminished playing time to get you down.

When his moment came, McConnell was ready …

Signature game
If any Sixer had a signature game this season, it was McConnell's insane Game 4 against the Celtics.

McConnell took Covington's spot in the starting lineup, and he made Brett Brown look like a genius. With a career-high 19 points, eight rebounds and five assists along with stellar defense on Terry Rozier, McConnell helped the Sixers keep their season alive.

Game 4 wasn't a total fluke for McConnell. In the series against the Celtics, he shot 19 for 26. When McConnell was on the court, the Sixers were plus-41, the best of any player from either team.

Prior to Game 4, McConnell had a couple other decent contenders for his signature game. In his only start of the regular season on Nov. 25 vs. Orlando, with Ben Simmons sidelined with a left elbow injury, McConnell posted 15 points, 13 assists and seven rebounds.

And on Feb. 12, McConnell notched his first career triple-double, recording 10 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds against the Knicks. He became the first Sixer in franchise history with a triple-double off the bench.

Looking ahead to 2018-19
At his end-of-season press conference, Bryan Colangelo confirmed the Sixers will exercise McConnell's team option.

Since we know McConnell will be back, the biggest question is, how Brown will find minutes for him? If McConnell is playing at a high level and Fultz isn't early in the season, Brown will be in a pretty awkward situation.

Even if Fultz has a slow start, you'd assume that the No. 1 overall pick, who's set to make more than five times as much as McConnell, would take a significant number of his minutes.

After next season, McConnell becomes an unrestricted free agent. Given how he's proved himself on the big stage, he should be in for a nice payday.

On McConnell
"It's tough. T.J. is the type of guy that you have to play him. He proved that this series against Boston. Without him in Game 4, I don't think we win that game. He's proven to you that you have to play him. He's going to do his best, he's going to play hard, he's going to press full court. He's going to do his job offensively, that's to share the ball, and if he's open, he's going to shoot it. But we got a great coaching staff. Coach Brown was amazing all year. The assistant coaches … all those guys were amazing. So they're going to figure it out. But I'm excited. It's going to be fun."

- Joel Embiid on Fultz possibly taking away from McConnell's playing time next season

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