There are plenty of trade rumors surrounding Bennedict Mathurin as the NBA trade deadline approaches. But as Indiana Pacers fans are considering whether or not they want to see him traded, they should consider one undeniable fact about him and his game: that Mathurin is better at driving to the hoop than anyone else on this roster.
You can love or hate Mathurin's game, but this truth remains something to consider moving forward. Having a wing who can put the ball on the deck and pressure defenses to react while getting downhill is valuable no matter how you slice it, even despite his deficiencies. There's no one in Indiana's locker room that does that at a higher level than him.
The reasons why some fans are skeptical of keeping him are understandable. He's not a perfect player. Mathurin can sometimes holds the ball too long and stall the offense, he can be turnover-prone, and his defensive output is inconsistent.
As for off the court factors, the fact that he's on an expiring rookie contract and is going to be due for a payday after this season is the biggest red flag for a lot of people. But despite all those factors, it's not enough for the Pacers to be convinced they want him gone after this season.
Bennedict Mathurin's skill is vital to this Pacers team
At the end of the day, Indiana has to think about what utility players will benefit their offense the most, and there's a strong argument that Mathurin is still needed. When the Pacers need someone to break the structure and force help, Mathurin does that naturally. In situations where he uses his burst and creates paint touches, that opens things up even if the possession doesn’t always end cleanly.
That's still a skill that the Pacers need. Playoff defenses are designed to take away first options and dare teams to beat them off the dribble. Right now, Mathurin is one of the only Pacers wings who can consistently answer that call. Trading him means you’re either confident that void can be filled by someone else or you’re comfortable becoming easier to guard.
His contract situation complicates things, but it shouldn’t completely dictate the decision. Yes, Mathurin is going to want real money, and yes, Indiana has to be smart about how it allocates future cap space. But selling low on a 23-year-old who has a solid foundation would feel like a mistake.
Make a move to trade him if the right deal comes along, sure. But trading Mathurin simply because he isn’t a finished product yet would be short-sighted. Teams value that downhill scoring power, and Bennedict's skill in that department remains unmatched on this roster.