T.J. McConnell Hamstring Injury Forces Pacers To Pivot, Sign Cam Payne

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Pacers will be without reserve point guard T.J. McConnell for at least a month as he recovers from a hamstring injury. McConnell, 33, left the team’s first preseason game on Tuesday in pain, intentionally fouling to exit the contest.

He went back to the locker room while reaching for his left hamstring and didn’t return to the action. McConnell had seven points and three assists in just over eight minutes of play at the time and was successfully guiding a second unit. But he took himself out of the game and did not return during the Pacers preseason win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The team ruled him out for the rest of the night with a hamstring injury, and Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle shared more details when the team practiced earlier today.

“He’s going to be out for a while. I think it’s safe to say that he’ll be out at least a month,” Carlisle said of McConnell. “Not as bad as it could have been, but it’s going to take some time.”

McConnell is a 10-year veteran, and he’s been a key part of Indiana’s rotation for the last six seasons. He is breaking norms for a player of his size and skill, and his chemistry is valuable for the Pacers second unit. But he’s now out to start the season. If he misses a month, he’d miss the Pacers first 10 games. And that’s a minimum, muscle injuries can come with longer absences.

It’s a big loss for the blue and gold. McConnell averaged 9.1 points and 4.4 assists per game last season and was great off the bench during the team’s playoff run. His ability to get into the paint and keep the team’s tempo alive even when star Tyrese Haliburton off the floor is a key part of the Pacers being able to play their unique style for 48 minutes.

This season, McConnell’s role was going to be more critical. Haliburton won’t play in 2025-26, so other Pacers point guards are going to step into more responsibility. Andrew Nembhard is taking over duties as the starter, and McConnell is projected to be his backup. They have played together in the past, too.

What injuries do the Pacers have at point guard?

Now, the Pacers won’t have McConnell for over 10% of their season. And they have more injuries than just Haliburton and McConnell to deal with at point guard. Kam Jones, a rookie selected with the 38th overall pick in June’s NBA Draft, has a back injury and is going to miss multiple weeks. Delon Wright, a player Indiana signed just before training camp because they needed more point guard depth, also went down with an injury in the Pacers preseason tilt in Minnesota.

Wright, who was fighting for the Pacers last roster spot, collided with Timberwolves forward Jaylen Clark during the second quarter of that game. Their heads banged into each other, then Wright’s head hit the hardwood as he fell over. The veteran guard left the floor bloody.

Wright didn’t return to the game, and no specifics about his injury were revealed. The Pacers waived him on Thursday. “It just didn’t work out with Delon,” Carlisle said, not providing much detail about the reasoning for the waiver when it came to injuries at point guard.

In total, Wright was with the blue and gold for about a week and half. He had two points at the time of his exit. When he was injured, then waived, Indiana had an immediate need for a point guard, and specifically an experienced one. With McConnell and Jones down, the team had nobody behind Nembhard outside of two-way contract signees.

What are the Pacers doing about their injuries and waivers?

Granted, both of those two-way players (Quenton Jackson and RayJ Dennis) are capable of playing some rotation minutes in a pinch. But the Pacers needed another lead ball handler, and they signed one on Thursday by bringing in Cam Payne.

Payne, a 10-year veteran who was with the New York Knicks last season, spent his offseason working out in New York waiting for his next opportunity. He was getting ready to move back to Phoenix soon, but during a Wednesday training session he got a call from his agent. Indiana wanted him. Six hours and a plane ride later, he was in Indianapolis with the Pacers.

The 31-year old averaged 6.9 points and 2.8 assists per game for the Knicks last season. He averaged double figures in scoring as recently as the 2022-23 season. Now, he comes to Indiana and might be the backup point guard immediately with McConnell and Haliburton sidelined.

“Good player. He’s a guy we always had to account for in scouts and whatnot… His speed and long range shooting ability is high level. He’s experienced.” Carlisle said of Payne.

The Murray State product has deep postseason experience. He played in the Eastern Conference Finals last season and the NBA Finals in 2021 with the Phoenix Suns. The Pacers could use experience on their second unit with McConnell out, and Payne brings some.

He kept himself in shape this summer in case an opportunity came his way. The Pacers, and their strong need for depth at his position, became that opportunity – and he could be in line for minutes quickly.

“I know they play really fast. I know I can adapt to that. I like to play with a lot of pace. Obviously, their defensive intensity is on 100. I gotta make sure I bring that,” Payne said of his fit with the blue and gold.

Because Payne has a case to be in the rotation mix already, he tried to focus on having a good first practice with the team on Thursday. He’s been traded mid-season before and has experience quickly adapting to new situations, which are helpful traits right now.

“I think he’s going to be good, just getting in there, playing fast. Another ball handler. We’re short on some of those,” Pacers star Pascal Siakam said of the Payne addition.

Indiana next plays on Saturday against the Oklahoma City Thunder, so more clarity about their plans at point guard will come then. But injuries – some from last season and some from Tuesday – have forced them to pivot quickly. Losing McConnell will be challenging to start the season – Payne and, if needed, Jackson will need to be at their best for the Pacers early in the campaign.