Bennedict Mathurin is eligible for a rookie-scale contract extension this offseason, but it is looking like the Indiana Pacers will not give it to him, likely making him a restricted free agent next summer. This is an incredibly risky move, however, as it now increases the chances that the Pacers are going to lose him next summer if another team gives Mathurin an offer they don't want to match, which is a very real possibility.
This past summer, there was a lot of talk about whether Indiana was willing to go into the luxury tax to re-sign Myles Turner. Whether they were willing to or not ultimately didn't matter as the Texas native joined the Milwaukee Bucks as a free agent, seemingly before the Pacers could match the offer.
At this point, it is fair to assume that the Pacers still want to stay below the luxury tax threshold, which would be incredibly difficult for them to do if they want to sign Mathurin to a new contract. This is especially true if he increases his value with a career year, which isn't just possible, but expected.
Recently, The Ringer's Zach Lowe predicted that the Pacers will not sign the Canadian native to an extension, even though he is projected to take on his biggest role with the team as their starting shooting guard.
"Bennedict Mathurin, I'm going no. No extension on Bennedict Mathurin, who went from the guy that the [Pacers] seemed most likely to salary dump in order to clean up their books in case Myles Turner re-signed to, 'Oh my god, he's gonna start this year and we don't have Tyrese Haliburton, we don't have Myles Turner.' I don't necessarily think that change in his status makes an extension more likely. I don't sense a lot of momentum right now," Lowe said.
There is a lot to like about Mathurin's game. He is an incredible scorer, he has improved in every area of the game since getting drafted in 2022, and he is still just 23 years old. However, he is not a great fit in Indiana.
The Pacers rely heavily on improvisation and fast-paced ball movement, which is not Mathurin's bread and butter as he is more of an iso scorer who puts the ball on the floor. Additionally, he does not provide enough value elsewhere for the Pacers to justify keeping him around and moving into the luxury tax despite his poor offensive fit.
Indiana will soon have to make a major decision on Mathurin, and there are pros and cons to keeping him for the long haul or moving on from him. Regardless, the team's decision should be a rather easy one: keep Mathurin around for as long as they can.
The Pacers need Bennedict Mathurin to remain with the team
Mathurin is not irreplaceable in Indiana, and he is not its most important player. However, he is easily the best iso scorer on the team, and he has improved each year he has been in the NBA.
Last season, he averaged 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game while shooting 45.8% from the field and 34% from beyond the arc. It's a small sample size, but statistically speaking, this was the best season of the Arizona alum's career.
Furthermore, Mathurin has done well no matter the role he has been given. He started 49 games for Indiana last season after Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith missed some time due to injury, and he played well, averaging 16.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.9 assists while 45.1% shooting from the field and 36.4% from the three-point line during his first 30 starts.
However, he was also a microwave off the bench, which was especially noticeable during the Pacers' latest playoff run, when he scored 20 or more points in the NBA Finals twice off the bench.
It is also important to remember that, while he is not a great fit in Indiana's system, it simply hasn't mattered. He plays his role well and has proven he can adapt and evolve. And from the Pacers' perspective, it hasn't stopped them from competing for a championship, and there have been multiple times where Mathurin led the team in scoring and stepped up when they needed him to.
As the Pacers look to re-establish themselves as title contenders next season, they will need everybody to bring their A-game, and this especially includes Mathurin. However, no matter what happens, the team needs to sign him to a new contract next summer to ensure he reaches his peak with them, and not another team.