Philadelphia 76ers: Ranking every player on the 2018-19 roster post-trade deadline
8. T.J. McConnell
It happened again. Most fans were out on T.J. McConnell coming into the season, expecting Markelle Fultz to return to form and absorb his minutes. That obviously didn’t work out, leaving T.J. — per usual — as one of Brett Brown’s most trusted reserves.
There’s constant debate regarding McConnell’s skill set and fit, but he adds value through the intangibles. He’s comfortable in Brown’s system, hustles on defense, and tends to change the tempo of games with his assertiveness.
McConnell is the classic underdog story, which fits Philadelphia quite well. He’s undersized and lacks athleticism, but still makes an impact through grit and high-I.Q. basketball, as cliche as it might be.
Long term, it’s reasonable to question T.J.’s future with the organization. He’s a free agent next summer, where other teams might be able to outbid the cash-strapped Sixers. He’s also an odd fit next to Ben Simmons and Jimmy Butler. Add in his defensive liabilities, and the Sixers might finally move on.
There’s also reason to believe otherwise, though. Brown continues to show faith in McConnell, warranted or not. T.J. has also been a positive locker room influence, forming friendships with star players and constantly hyping the bench. His handling of the Fultz saga cemented that.
As the season progresses, McConnell will continue to get sizable minutes off the bench. His playing time will likely decrease in certain matchups once the playoffs hit, but expect him to play as prominent a role as anyone not named Mike Scott in the second unit.