With his Indiana Pacers future up in the air, Bennedict Mathurin needs to show great improvements in his game next season as a team player and a good fit in the system.
Next season is going to be a big one for Mathurin. It will essentially be a contract year for him as he is not expected to get a rookie-scale contract extension this summer. However, it still remains to be seen if he is even in the Pacers' long-term plans.
The Canadian native is a prime trade candidate for Indiana, though it is not as simple as the team not wanting him anymore or just wanting to capitalize on his trade value. Instead, the Pacers may not want to keep Mathurin around as he is not a good fit in their fast-paced offensive system. Plus, signing him to a new deal may push them into the luxury tax, which is something the team has not paid in two decades.
As he prepares for his biggest role yet, Mathurin must show out next season. This includes proving that he can make the improvements needed to prove to the Pacers that they cannot move on from him just yet.
Bennedict Mathurin has a lot of potential
As he has shown numerous times throughout his Pacers tenure, Mathurin has the potential to be a big-time contributor to the team. He stepped up many times last season, especially during Indiana's NBA Finals run. He is not a perfect player, and he can be very streaky at times, but when he is on, Mathurin provides a lot of value in a way that not many others on the team can.
Furthermore, Mathurin just turned 23 years old in June, and he still has a high ceiling. The Arizona alum is incredibly gifted, and trading him could be a big mistake for Indiana. However, the concerns about his fit in the system are fair.
Mathurin is more of a traditional iso scorer who likes to put the ball on the ground and create his own shot. This is the complete opposite way the Pacers like to play as they rely on improvisation and a lot of ball movement. Additionally, Mathurin does not provide much value in any other level of the game, which makes it even more difficult for the Pacers to justify giving him a new contract.
With Andrew Nembhard running the point next season, Mathurin is in a good position to succeed and showcase more of what he can do. However, that might not be enough. Instead, he needs to show improvements in other aspects of his game, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. If he can, then it may be inevitable that he stays with the Pacers for the long haul, which would be a good move for both sides.