Bennedict Mathurin remains a potential trade candidate for the Indiana Pacers, but the team would be better off keeping him around. Despite his poor fit, the Pacers have proven they can compete with Mathurin playing a big role in their offense.
Additionally, Mathurin is an incredibly skilled player with a unique skillset, and he is someone who can help the Pacers more than hurt them in the long run.
The Canadian native is eligible for a rookie-scale contract extension this summer, but it seems like the Pacers are not going to give it to him. Instead, they will let him play out all of next season and prove his worth. Now that he is expected to be Indiana's starting shooting guard for a year, Mathurin should have plenty of opportunities to do so.
In theory, it could make sense for the Pacers to trade Mathurin. While he is a fantastic iso scorer with high upside, he is not a good fit in Indiana's offense, which relies heavily on ball movement and improvisation. Furthermore, signing him to a new deal may push them into the luxury tax, and it could be a smart move for the team to trade him while he still has high value, particularly to address another need (like a more dependable starting center to replace Myles Turner).
However, Mathurin is too good of a player for Indiana to trade this early, and they have already figured out how to be one of the best offensive units in the NBA with him involved.
The Pacers will have some decisions to make over the next year, but no matter what, they should not trade Mathurin, and he should be a long-term asset for them as they look to re-establish themselves as title contenders.
Bennedict Mathurin can help the Pacers win for a long time
Since getting drafted sixth overall by Indiana in 2022, Mathurin has gradually improved every season of his career. This was especially noticeable last season, when he had arguably the best season of his young NBA career.
In 72 games, the Arizona alum averaged 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists while shooting 45.8% from the field and 34% from beyond the arc. Last season was Mathurin's most efficient as a scorer, and he contributed in every other area of his game more than he had before.
Additionally, the Pacers learned they can count on Mathurin to step up when they need him to. When Indiana inserted him into the starting lineup in early November due to an injury to Aaron Nesmith, Mathurin stepped up and gave the fanbase some hope despite the team's slow start to the season (they were 10-15 to begin the campaign).
Throughout the month of November, Mathurin averaged 19.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists on 48% shooting from the field and 43.8% shooting from beyond the arc. He stepped up in a major way when the Pacers needed him to, and he did it again later in the playoffs, particularly in the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, when he had multiple 20-point performances off the bench.
It is also easy to forget that Mathurin is just 23 years old and still has a lot of time to develop. There is a lot to like about his game, and he has already proven that he can contribute in Indiana. Plus, the fact that he has not even hit his peak yet is something the team needs to keep in mind as they figure out what their stance is on him for the long run.
For the Pacers to return to title contention, they need to build the best team possible. However, continuity is also important, and keeping the core of their roster intact as much as they can will pay dividends (like it did last season).
Mathurin should not necessarily be considered an untouchable, but the Pacers also should view him as more than a trade chip. He is immensely talented and has a lot of potential. As he continues to develop, the Pacers will want him to reach his peak with them, not with another team.