As it stands, it seems increasingly likely that the Indiana Pacers will let Bennedict Mathurin hit restricted free agency next summer, and it is fair to assume that he could end up with a team like the Washington Wizards, Charlotte Hornets, or Brooklyn Nets and become their top scoring option.
In a recent episode of his podcast, The Ringer's Zach Lowe and The Athletic's Fred Katz spoke about Mathurin's outlook ahead of a contract year. Not only did they predict that the Canadian native will not get the rookie-scale contract extension he is currently eligible for, but they spoke about a few teams that either have the cap space or could create the cap space to sign Mathurin to a massive deal next year and give him a major role.
Bennedict Mathurin's future with the Pacers in up in the air
Mathurin is heading into his fourth season in Indiana, and it is already shaping up to be the most important one of his career yet.
Following Tyrese Haliburton's Achilles injury, which will sideline him for the entire season, the Pacers are making some changes to their lineup. They are choosing to slide Andrew Nembahrd over to the point guard role full-time, and they are expected to insert Mathurin into the lineup as the team's starting shooting guard.
This will be a great opportunity for the Arizona alum to showcase his value and prove his worth to the Pacers as his long-term future with the team is still undecided.
There is a lot to like about Mathurin in Indiana. He is a tremendous iso scorer and is only 23 years old with a lot of room to grow. Plus, he has played well regardless of whether he is coming off the bench or in the starting lineup. Mathurin has stepped up numerous times for the Pacers when they needed him to (especially during their latest playoff run), and the team has already proven they can compete with him.
However, signing Mathurin to a new deal, especially if it is in the $20-$30 million per season range he is reportedly seeking, according to Jake Fischer of the Stein Line, would most likely move the Pacers into the luxury tax, which they seemingly still do not want to do.
Additionally, while Mathurin has what it takes to be a great player, he is not a good fit in Indiana's offense.
While the Pacers rely heavily on pushing the tempo and moving the ball, Mathurin's bread-and-butter is his ability to create his own shot and put the ball on the floor. Though he is exceptional at doing this, it can slow down Indiana's offense, which is far from ideal considering the way they like to play.
Because of this, moving on from Mathurin is a legitimate possibility, especially because there are likely plenty of teams looking to add a player with his skillset and ability to score at will.
Next season will be a good opportunity for Mathurin to prove that he belongs in Indiana for the long haul by buying into its system more and showing defensive improvements. Ultimately, Mathurin is a fantastic player, and it would be wise for the Pacers to keep him around as long as possible. However, there is a real chance it may be too expensive for the team to do so, and losing him in free agency next summer may be a risk they are willing to take.