T.J. Warren made a name for himself with his offensive splurge in the 2019-20 NBA season, a time when most teams were forced to play without fans in the stands.
Warren averaged 26.6 points, 6.3 boards, and 2.4 assists in 10 games at the time. However, injuries (stress fractures to the foot) have kept him on the sidelines, depriving him of continuing his on-court brilliance.
Looking ahead, the 28-year-old forward is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason and there are multiple NBA teams expected to try and lure him. And it appears the 6-foot-8 cager is aware of that with reports that he will be sitting out the rest of the 2021-22 season.
Warren’s foot has healed up but will not play in the Pacers' final games of the season. Instead, he will be preserved for the upcoming offseason.
“However, after thoughtful conversation with T.J. and his representatives, it has been determined that the most beneficial course of action at this point is to allow him to focus on the 2022-23 season. We will continue to provide T.J. with all the care, support, and resources necessary to ensure he returns to the high-level of play to which he’s accustomed,” an official statement from the Pacers read.
Indiana is out of the NBA playoff picture and the move does make sense. As far as returning for the Pacers next season, the chances of that are also not promising.
With the arrival of Buddy Hield and Tyrese Haliburton, seeing Warren fit into the rotation by next season does not look promising. Hence, Warren is more likely to explore opportunities with other teams rather than worry about the playing time he may have in Indiana next season.
If Warren can prove that he can still play at a level that most teams need, particularly offensively, the native of North Carolina should have no problem hooking up with a new team for the 2022-23 NBA season.
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