After an inspiring postseason run that led all the way up to the NBA Finals, the Indiana Pacers were faced with some huge obstacles heading into the 2025 offseason. With Tyrese Haliburton expected to miss the entirety of the campaign with an Achilles injury, the Pacers recently suffered another blow to their backcourt rotation.
NBA insider Marc Stein recently tweeted, “Pacers coach Rick Carlisle announced today that T.J. McConnell (left hamstring) will be out for at least a month … only increasing Indiana’s need for backcourt reinforcements with Tyrese Haliburton, of course, already lost for the season.”
T.J. McConnell has been an integral member of the Pacers’ rotation. In Haliburton’s absence during Game 7 of the NBA Finals, McConnell’s performance helped keep the Pacers competitive. While primarily coming off the bench, the veteran guard provided valuable minutes as a playmaker and defender, effectively orchestrating the second unit’s offense.
While his being sidelined doesn’t directly impact Indiana’s starting backcourt, which is likely to feature Bennedict Mathurin and Andrew Nembhard next season, the Pacers’ depth has definitely taken a hit.
To address this matter, Indiana has reportedly signed veteran guard Cam Payne to a training camp deal. While Payne could be a solid player with experience to anchor the backcourt, the Pacers could instead turn their attention toward a fallen All-Star who even has close ties with the Indiana Pacers.
The Pacers Should Sign Victor Oladipo
Two-time All-Star Victor Oladipo was one of the most exciting players in the league during his tenure with the Indiana Pacers. In four seasons with the Pacers, Oladipo led the team to two playoff appearances. Although both runs were cut short in the first round itself, it is safe to say that the guard was one of the most impactful players on the court during that stretch.
During his stint with the Pacers, Oladipo averaged 20.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game, shooting 45.1% from the field and 35.6% from three-point range. He was also a solid contributor on defense, averaging 1.9 steals per game during this period, even winning the steals title in the 2017-18 season with an average of 2.4 steals per game.
Over the course of the 2020-21 season, Oladipo was traded from the Pacers to the Rockets before eventually landing on the Miami Heat. With injuries and a botched surgery taking their toll on his body, the guard only appeared in a total of 54 games for the Heat before missing the entirety of the 2023-24 season due to injury.
While the Pacers could be concerned with Oladipo’s injury history, along with the fact that he hasn’t played in the NBA since April 2023, the guard has generated a lot of buzz with his recent performances in the preseason.
Playing for the CBA’s (Chinese Basketball Association) Guangzhou Loong-Lions, Oladipo recorded some solid outings against NBA competition.
Against the San Antonio Spurs, he notched 20 points, five rebounds, three assists, five steals, and a block on 8-for-19 shooting from the field.
In a recent game against the Los Angeles Clippers, the 33-year-old posted 24 points, five assists, one block, and two steals, while shooting 66.7% from the field and 50.0% from three-point range.
Oladipo’s consistent performances and production are worth noting. When considering the way he has been moving, there is speculation that he could finally be in good health, which might generate some interest in the free agency market.
Considering the CBA season runs during the same time as the NBA, signing Victor Oladipo may pose a challenge if he already signed a contract. However, if the Indiana Pacers can succeed in pulling this off, it would undoubtedly be a significant boost to their current rotation, potentially even helping them remain competitive in the East.
