The Sixer Sense
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T.J. McConnell’s Potential and Future With Philadelphia 76ers

By Michael Bronson

Apr 12, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks guard Chasson Randle (40) defends against Philadelphia 76ers guard T.J. McConnell (1) as he dribbles the ball during the second half at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks won 114-113. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 12, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks guard Chasson Randle (40) defends against Philadelphia 76ers guard T.J. McConnell (1) as he dribbles the ball during the second half at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks won 114-113. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 18, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) grabs a rebound in front of guard Nik Stauskas (11) and forward Ersan Ilyasova (7) and guard T.J. McConnell (1) during the second quarter against the Toronto Raptors at Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won 94-89. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 18, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) grabs a rebound in front of guard Nik Stauskas (11) and forward Ersan Ilyasova (7) and guard T.J. McConnell (1) during the second quarter against the Toronto Raptors at Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won 94-89. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Scrambling for Dollars

Per the calendar, the NBA’s 2019 offseason is the same year that Joel Embiid becomes a free agent.  Of course,  assuming the 76ers make good on converting Ben Simmons to point guard may be too optimistic.  But it’s no stretch to presume that the team gets a non-McConnell starting point guard in the draft or free agency.

Furthermore, it’s no stretch to believe that 76ers are an actually playoff team by that point.  So , in those circumstances,  is it a good idea to spend the amount of money needed to keep McConnell?

Reserves, or Federal Reserves?

Considering backup point guards signed during the 2016 offseason Matthew Dellavedova and Austin Rivers are making $9,607,500 and $11,000,000 this season, McConnell would be worth more than the Sixers should be willing to spend on him and trading him during the 2019 trade deadline or just letting him leave as a free agency after a hopefully deep playoff run could be the better decision.

Next: If Philadelphia 76ers Land Second In NBA Draft, Is PG Lonzo Ball The Pick?

McConnell is much better player than most people would’ve imagined and he did good enough for me to give him a B grade this season, but he is a player that is unlikely to be part of an Embiid and Ben Simmons led championship Sixers’ team or play his entire career with the Sixers.