The Indiana Pacers' front office rarely misses, and that's what fans must keep in mind as they await to see what Bennedict Mathurin's future with the team looks like.
Following Monday's deadline, the Pacers opted not to give Mathurin the rookie-scale contract extension he was eligible for. Because of this, he is likely set to hit restricted free agency next summer, and his future in Indiana is now up in the air.
The Pacers are choosing to let the Canadian native prove his value this season and essentially earn his new contract. In doing so, the team is going to start him at shooting guard and likely rely on him much more to generate points.
This makes sense, in theory, but it's also incredibly risky.
The main reason the Pacers did not give Mathurin another contract is that doing so would likely push them into the luxury tax for the first time in two decades. This was a big story ahead of Myles Turner's free agency, and it remains one here. Instead, the Pacers will give the Arizona alum another season to prove he is worth it, or they can decide to trade him during the season.
However, this decision can also backfire if Mathurin performs a little too well, which would move him outside of Indiana's price range. In this case, the Pacers are at serious risk of losing him for nothing, which would be far from ideal for the team.
Regardless, there are reasons for fans to believe in the Pacers' front office. They have done an excellent job in recent years (trading for castaways like Tyrese Haliburton, Aaron Nesmith, and Obi Toppin, and hitting on draft picks like Andrew Nembhard in the second round in 2022), and there is a reason they have been so successful over the past couple of years.
Whether it be via a trade or new contract, Pacers fans should feel rest assured that the team is going to make the right decision on Mathurin, who has a lot to prove this season.
The Pacers have an obvious Bennedict Mathurin decision to make
There is a lot to like about Mathurin's game. He is an excellent scorer (he is averaging 15.9 points on 44.6% shooting in his first three seasons), and he has constantly stepped up in big moments.
However, his offensive skillset does not match the Pacers' system, which puts him and the team in an interesting predicament.
Indiana relies heavily on pushing the tempo and making quick decisions and passes with the ball. Mathurin, on the other hand, likes to have the ball in his hands and create his own shot. Some have called him a "ball-stopper" because of this, and it proves that he's not a good fit in the Pacers' elite system. Additionally, he does not provide much value elsewhere for the team to justify going into the luxury tax to keep him.
On the other hand, though, this hasn't mattered. The Pacers finished as a top-10 offensive team in each of the past two seasons with Mathurin, and they just made it to the NBA Finals with him doing what he does.
He may not be the perfect fit for the Pacers, but they're still succeeding regardless, and his skillset is not one the team should be willing to lose strictly for financial reasons.
Signing him to a new contract could force the front office to open their wallets a little more than they want to, but for a guy like Mathurin, this would be worth it. This is especially true since he's only 23 years old and still has a lot of room to grow.
Mathurin has All-Star potential, and he has already shown flashes of greatness in Indiana. No matter the cost, the Pacers must keep him around, especially as it looks to re-establish itself as a title contender.