One of the biggest storylines surrounding the Indiana Pacers this season is what the future holds for Bennedict Mathurin.
The team chose not to sign the Canadian native to a rookie-scale contract extension last summer, meaning he's likely headed towards restricted free agency this offseason. However, they can decide to trade him ahead of this year's deadline (most likely for an upgrade at center) and just move on from him entirely.
There are reasons for the Pacers to trade Mathurin this season. He is not an ideal fit in their system since he is a ball-dominant wing on a team that emphasizes ball movement and pushing the tempo. Additionally, it still remains to be seen whether he's going to be a full-time starter or a sixth man moving forward. And depending on how big a contract he gets, re-signing him could lead to a massive overpay for the Pacers that could backfire for those reasons.
However, the rewards outweigh the risks in this situation. And all things considered, Indiana is better off just keeping Mathurin past the trade deadline, re-signing him in the offseason, and either allowing him to play a long-term role for the team or just figuring things out in the future.
The Pacers shouldn't trade Bennedict Mathurin
If the Pacers are going to trade Mathurin, it's likely for an upgrade at center. In theory, this isn't a bad call as they are still in serious need of a Myles Turner replacement. However, there aren't a ton of center upgrades realistically on the market for Indiana this season, much less one that is worth trading Mathurin for.
Furthermore, while there are genuine concerns about his fit in Indiana for the long run, the Arizona alum still provides a ton of value and is way too talented for the team to move on from.
Mathurin may be a bit of a ball-stopper, but it hasn't made much of a negative impact so far. Even with him playing a big role last season, the Pacers were just one win away from an NBA Championship (and they certainly didn't lose because of him, especially considering that he scored 23 points in Game 7 of the NBA Finals).
The Canadian native is an incredibly gifted iso scorer who is borderline unstoppable when he gets hot. He may not be much of a passer or playmaker, but he is still incredibly important to Indiana's success.
Because of his ability to put the ball on the floor and create his own shot, Mathurin can take a lot of pressure off guys like Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam. And having someone like that on the roster (especially next season specificially as it remains to be seen how Haliburton will play coming off an Achilles injury), could pay dividends for the long run.
It's also easy to forget sometimes that Mathurin is just 23 years old. He still has a lot of untapped potential and room to grow. And for a Pacers team looking to be in the title picture for the foreseeable future, Mathurin provides a ton of value.
Trading Mathurin might not be the worst idea in the world for the Pacers, especially if it addresses one of their biggest needs. However, there are risks involved no matter what they do, and keeping him around is much, much better for their long-term championship window and ceiling.