It's funny that every year at the NBA Draft, once the end of the guaranteed money and live appearances arrives at the end of the first round, everybody tunes out and refers to the 60th pick as "Mr. Irrelevant." That's not very accurate though, is it? Speaking historically, the title of "Mr. Irrelevant" could just as easily be applied to each pick in the draft, as organizations differ greatly in their evaluation of talent and their own needs, particularly in a year without the NCAA tournament. The nickname just doesn't reflect how basketball works anymore. Executives strategically stockpile second-round draft picks for the less burdensome financial obligations, and organizations in rebuilding mode get super creative to field a respectable team on a budget.Particularly in the NBA where worldwide talent is plentiful and positional lines continue to fade, opportunity is everything: in the right situation, the right under-the-radar player can make an immediate, poignant statement. With professional development leagues for 16-18-year-olds, an ever-expanding set of domestic/international opportunities due to the sheer growth of basketball, and widespread NIL rights for college athletes, players of all levels and localities are starting to get their due exposure and now have enough freedom to hone their skills in a place, and at a pace that fits best with their path to the NBA.Plus, I am inherently skeptical and distrusting of scouting from the high school level to pre-Draft. That's why in this annual article, I tend to favor overlooked college players (love the mid-majors/non-power conferences) with either well-rounded, polished games, or specific statistical specialties.We are going to discuss a handful of 2022 second-round picks and undrafted free agent (UDFA) signees who, given their individual skillsets and circumstances, warrant the attention of Fantasy Basketball Managers as potential high-impact rookies for the 2022-23 campaign who can quietly be acquired on clearance once they start showing signs of emergence.... [More]

Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (wrist) will return on Tuesday night against the Philadelphia 76ers. The veteran hasn't played since December due to right wrist surgery, so there's a chance he could see a minutes cap. However, with Malcolm Brogdon (back) out, McConnell could see an increase in production, even if his workload is limited. DFS managers looking for value should keep the 30-year-old in mind, although his services should be reserved for tournament formats.

Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (wrist) may be in the lineup on Tuesday versus Philadelphia. McConnell has been out for months after sustaining a right wrist injury that required surgery. However, with the Pacers looking at a rebuild ahead of the 2022-23 season, the 30-year-old could get some minutes in an attempt by the team to improve his trade stock. McConnell averaged 8.4 points, 4.8 assists, 3.3 boards, and 1.0 steals throughout 24 games before going down, so if he plays, he has some DFS value potential in tournament formats, even more so if Malcolm Brogdon (back) doesn't suit up.

Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (wrist) is expected to miss significant time, according to head coach Rick Carlisle. The organization is still evaluating McConnell after he suffered a right wrist injury. Brad Wanamaker was asked to pick up the slack on Wednesday. He played 16 minutes, but that could possibly increase going forward. Regardless, Wanamaker wouldn't be anything more than a deep league option.

Indiana Pacers point guard T.J. McConnell (wrist) has been ruled out for the remainder of Wednesday's contest against Atlanta due to a sore right wrist. McConnell logged just three minutes prior to his exit and did not make any contributions to the stat sheet. Brad Wanamaker stands to fill McConnell's role as the backup PG to Malcolm Brogdon, with the team also down Justin Holiday (health and safety protocols). McConnell is on pace to set a new career high in scoring (8.7 PPG) and is yet to miss a game this season, but his role remains capped on a nightly basis, a detriment to his season-long fantasy prospects. His next chance to take the floor comes Friday vs. the Heat.

Indiana Pacers point guard T.J. McConnell came through with a very nice 21 points, eight rebounds and five assists in Thursday's win over Utah, missing just four times from the field with 14 attempts and committing only one turnover in 30 minutes off the bench. The 29-year-old, who picked up one steal on the defensive end, has been getting plenty of burn lately as Caris LeVert (back) battles an injury. McConnell has always been a good passer of the ball, but he's also shooting very well this month, having registered a 64.1 percent success rate. McConnell and the Pacers finish the week against a slumping Philadelphia team that is without its defensive anchor Joel Embiid (health protocols).

Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell did a little bit of everything in Friday's 110-106 loss to the Trail Blazers. McConnell chipped in a season-high 19 points on 61.5 percent shooting from the field while knocking down 3 of 4 three-point attempts- though his contributions across each category- seven rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block- were equally valuable. The veteran guard took advantage of fellow guard Malcolm Brogdon's absence- and he is virtually a lock to play 30-plus minutes anytime he latter doesn't suit up. McConnell can even provide value off the bench in threes, assists, and steals when Brogdon is active.

Indiana Pacers point guard T.J. McConnell picked up a double-double in Monday's big win over San Antonio, going for 10 points on 5-for-7 shooting and delivering 10 assists. He added three steals and one block with three turnovers in 26 minutes of action. McConnell has been running with the starters lately with Malcolm Brogdon (hamstring) unavailable, and he didn't really get going with his first couple of games as a starter but this was a good one from him. Hamstring injuries tend to take weeks not days to heal, so McConnell should continue to start for at least a few more games. He meets a Knicks side next that hasn't been too kind to opposing point guards this season, limiting them to 34.6 percent shooting and allowing them to dish out only 7.7 assists per 48 minutes.