Ranking Indiana Pacers’ top 12 trade assets heading into the offseason
4. Bennedict Mathurin
With the sixth overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, the Indiana Pacers took Bennedict Mathurin. And over the course of the last year, Mathurin has shown signs of true star potential. Even though he navigated under the radar during his rookie season (he finished fourth in NBA Rookie of the Year voting), Mathurin concluded a successful first season with the Pacers by averaging 17 points and four rebounds on 43 percent shooting from the field.
After one season, Mathurin appears to be a key cog for the Pacers moving forward and a key piece of their rebuild. With the rookie season that he had, he has to be considered one of the rising young players in this league and, by proxy, one of the most valuable trade assets for the Pacers heading into the offseason.
For the Pacers, Mathurin appears to be the next in line to step in for Buddy Hield if/when the Pacers decide to move on from him. At the same rate, in the event that the right star player becomes available on the trade block, Mathurin would become an extremely valuable piece that could be the centerpiece of an offer.