The Sixer Sense
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How much is T.J. McConnell worth in free agency?

By Jack Coolahan

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 25: T.J. McConnell #12 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts during the game against the Houston Rockets on October 25, 2017 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 25: T.J. McConnell #12 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts during the game against the Houston Rockets on October 25, 2017 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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With his contract coming to an end after the 2018-19 season, how much could T.J. McConnell be worth to the Philadelphia 76ers when he eventually hits the open market?

In my opinion, T.J. McConnell deserves a max contract. I love that guy. I would offer him one if I were a franchise with no chance of ever winning, like the Pelicans. However, since the NBA is a business, McConnell’s career will likely come and go without a NBA team paying him hundreds of millions of dollars, unfortunate as that may be. Then again, can you really put a price on hustle?

Using the process of elimination, I will, in fact, quantify grit, by predicting the value of T.J. McConnell on the Summer 2019 free agent market. Let’s start from the top.

Supermax?

Under the current collective bargaining agreement, the largest contract any player can receive is known as the designated veteran exception. So far, only Stephen Curry, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook have signed these contracts, which usually last for five years and guarantee the player upwards of $200 million.

Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers /

Philadelphia 76ers

However, these supermax deals are only available to players entering their ninth or 10th season, according to The Atlantic. McConnell will be entering his fifth season in 2019, so he will not cross the supermax bridge for several years.

Rookie DPE?

For a player of T.J.’s tenure, the most valuable contract possible is the rookie designated player exception, which Joel Embiid and Andrew Wiggins recently signed. Each franchise can only use the rookie exception twice. Therefore, for McConnell to earn over $140 million over five years, he would have to convince upper management that he is more important to the franchise than Ben Simmons. For the sake of this exercise, let’s say that the Philadelphia 76ers offer it to Simmons. Would I do that if I were in charge? That’s a discussion for another day.

4-year Max Contract

The Sixers or another team could offer McConnell a four-year maximum contract in free agency. For example, Otto Porter and Harrison Barnes recently signed four-year deals worth $94 million and $106 million, respectively. Would any NBA teams be willing to offer McConnell a contract in that range? It’s hard to say.

The Wizards’ main reason for offering Porter the max was that they could not afford to lose him for nothing. Everyone would agree that the Sixers cannot afford to lose T.J. McConnell, period. By that logic, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where the Sixers don’t offer him at least $100 million over four years.

At the same time, McConnell has averaged only 6.5 points and 5.5 assists per game during his career. I have to believe that the Sixers would consider that before reserving a large percentage of their salary cap for him.

Related Story: T.J. McConnell continues to overcome unfavorable odds

I conclude that T.J.’s production will not garner a maximum contract. However, an NBA team could still bet on his massive star potential, if he has any. How much room to improve does McConnell have?

Now, I’m about to make an observation that average joes on the couch just don’t pick up on. Since he entered the league, McConnell has quietly been adding hair. First, he scrapped the buzz cut for a combover, and this season, he grew out his beard. Call me crazy, but is he not developing into a teen wolf?

Before you stop reading, hear me out. Of all general managers, Sam Hinkie would be the one to sign an undrafted future teen wolf. Also, of all medical staffs, the Sixers medical staff would be the one to misdiagnose their backup point guard’s werewolf mutation. If I was Bryan Colangelo, I would not want my gravestone to read, “He let a teen wolf walk in restricted free agency.” That’s all I am saying. The teen wolf from the movie would have gotten a supermax.

Final Value

On the off chance that McConnell is a normal human, he would get less than a maximum contract in free agency. In 2016, Jerryd Bayless got $9 million per year from the Sixers. McConnell is younger and better than Bayless, so my educated guess is that McConnell and all of his grit, toughness, and basketball IQ is worth $40 million over four years.

Next: Who should be on the Sixers' early 2018 draft board?

Therefore, he will sign with the Knicks for four years and $65 million.