After trading Bennedict Mathurin away to the Los Angeles Clippers earlier this year, the Indiana Pacers were left with a difficult question they still haven't found the answer to: Who is going to replace him?
Mathurin had his flaws, and in theory, trading him for a clear need in Ivica Zubac and not having to sign him to a new contract (especially when they were still unclear if they wanted to keep him around anyway) made sense. But there was also no denying how much scoring talent he had and how valuable he was (at times) to the Pacers.
With the Canadian native no longer on the roster, the Pacers don't have a reliable bucket-getter off the bench who can create his own shot and get some points on the board if the offense gets stagnant (not to mention take the pressure off of guys like Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam, which would be a huge benefit for the long run).
And this summer, they will need to figure out exactly how to make up for his absence.
The Pacers can find Bennedict Mathurin's replacement in the draft
If the lottery goes in Indiana's favor next month, the team may have the opportunity to draft BYU's AJ Dybantsa or Kansas' Darryn Peterson. Both of these players would be fantastic Mathurin replacements, but for different reasons.
They are both incredible shot creators who can score from just about anywhere on the floor (Peterson is more of a three-point shooter, while Dybantsa excels at getting to the rim) and can be trusted with the ball at any given moment. And, of course, they both have a much higher ceiling than Mathurin does.
In a way, Peterson would be the best one-for-one Mathurin replacement because of his pure scoring and isolation talent, whereas Dybantsa is closer to the player Indiana wanted the Arizona alum to become (a ball-dominant wing who is a jack of all trades and can contribute in every area).
But if the lottery doesn't go the Pacers' way, and their pick ends up in the Clippers' hands, there is one other option already on the roster.
Jarace Walker can help replace Bennedict Mathurin's value
This one is a bit more of a stretch, I'll admit. But there are reasons to think Jarace Walker can help fill the void left by the Mathurin trade.
In his third NBA season, Walker had the best campaign of his career, averaging 11.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists while shooting 41.9% from the field and 37.4% from beyond the arc. Additionally, he showed great improvements in every area of the floor, mostly becoming a more consistent shooter and a better shot creator.
The Houston alum already has the versatility because of his well-rounded playstyle, but now that he's becoming an even better overall scorer, there's no telling what's in store for him. And with Mathurin out of the picture, Walker should be in line for a consistent role next season (assuming the Pacers don't trade him first).
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