According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, the Indiana Pacers and Chicago Bulls have discussed a Bennedict Mathurin-for-Ayo Dosunmu swap ahead of Thursday's trade deadline.
"League sources say that there has been some tangible discussion this week between Chicago and Indiana on a possible Dosunmu-for-Bennedict Mathurin swap. Yet it's unclear what affect the Bulls' Tuesday business might have on those talks," Fischer wrote.
Mathurin is far and away the most popular trade candidate for the Pacers, given that he is set to hit restricted free agency this summer. And given that they might not want to sign him to a new contract because of their long-term concerns about his role and fit with the team, trading him this season could make sense.
But does it make sense to trade him for Dosunmu? Not at all.
Pacers shouldn't trade Bennedict Mathurin for Ayo Dosunmu
Dosunmu is a solid player and would actually be a good fit in Indiana. In 45 games this season (only 10 starts), the 26-year-old has averaged 15 points, 3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in 26.4 minutes while shooting 51.4% from the field and 45.1% from deep.
Trading for Dosunmu would provide the Pacers with another fantastic bench scorer (which they will desperately need if they move on from Mathurin) who is also good in transition and plays solid defense. However, if Indiana is going to trade Mathurin, it needs to be for a new starting center, and not for an impending unrestricted free agent.
I've long been an advocate for keeping Mathurin in Indiana for as long as possible. Sure, he's a bit of a ball-stopper in a system that relies on pushing the tempo and moving the ball. And signing him to $20-$30 million a year just to keep him on the bench (which is probably the best move for him) would be tough to justify.
But beyond all of that, the Arizona alum is an incredibly gifted scorer and can raise the Pacers' ceiling in the long run.
Having someone like Mathurin around, who can generate his own offense and create his own shot, is huge for the Pacers. And this will especially be true next season as Tyrese Haliburton eases back into the action.
If it were up to me, I'd just choose to keep Mathurin past the trade deadline, sign him to a new deal in the summer, and just figure it all out later. He's borderline unstoppable when he's hot (and he can get hot in a hurry), and he still has a lot of room to grow at just 23 years old. Losing him for someone who isn't a clear-cut upgrade is a big risk that isn't worth taking.
Should the Canadian native be untouchable before the trade deadline? No, but Indiana needs to be extremely picky about its return for him. The team clearly has some pressing needs (particularly their center situation), and trading Mathurin could help them address them. But unless the price is absolutely right, they need to keep him around for the long haul.