Things can still change, but according to Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, Bennedict Mathurin is expected to be the team's starting shooting guard next season.
With Tyrese Haliburton out for the year with an Achilles injury, the Pacers are expected to slide Andrew Nembhard over to the point guard role full-time. There is a lot to like about this move, especially considering that Nembhard is a natural point guard. However, one of the bigger questions was always who was going to slide into the shooting guard role and essentially be to Nembhard what he was to Haliburton.
In a recent interview with Caitlin Cooper of Basketball, She Wrote, Carlisle gave a definitive answer to that question and revealed that Mathurin is expected to be that guy (h/t Caitlin Cooper on YouTube).
"I'm projecting [Bennedict Mathurin] as our starting two this year...I was on the phone with him and his agent four days ago, and I said 'You're gonna be with the starters on day one. It's your job to lose, but here's what we need from you: we need you to keep running and simply running to the corners and stretching out the defense,'" Carlisle said.
Earlier this offseason, Pacers GM Chad Buchanan revealed that the team was planning to have a bit of an open competition for the spot. In addition to Mathurin, he named Johnny Furphy, Jarace Walker, and Ben Sheppard as other candidates. However, it seems like the Arizona alum will get the job, and he will now have an opportunity to fully showcase his talents and prove his worth.
Bennedict Mathurin's future in Indiana is still up in the air
Just because he will likely be the team's starting shooting guard next season does not mean Mathurin is guaranteed to be a long-term asset for the Pacers. The Canadian native is eligible for a contract extension, but it seems like Indiana is opting to let him play next season out before committing to him for the long run.
There is no doubt that Mathurin is incredibly talented and brings a lot of value to Indiana. However, there are questions about his long-term fit with the team. With Haliburton running the point, the Pacers rely on heavy ball movement and a fast-paced offensive style of play. Mathurin does not necessarily provide either of those. Instead, he is an iso scorer who puts the ball on the ground a lot. This is not bad on the surface, especially given how gifted he is. However, this may lower his and the team's ceiling, which is far from ideal.
Now that Nembhard is running the show next season, the Pacers are expected to run a more traditional offense with set plays in the half-court. This could give Mathurin an even better opportunity to shine.
Mathurin is still just 23 years old and has continued to improve each season he has been in the league. He has shown a lot of flashes and has come up big numerous times for Indiana, especially last season. There is a lot to like about his game and what he brings to the team. However, keeping him around also has its potential negatives. Ultimately, next season will be make-or-break for Mathurin's Pacers career, and now that he has the starting role, he should have plenty of opportunities to showcase what he's got.