Pacers have made stance on Bennedict Mathurin crystal clear if latest rumors are true

There has been a lot of talk about Bennedict Mathurin's future with the Indiana Pacers since the team chose not to give him a rookie-scale contract extension in the summer. The Canadian native is set to hit restricted free agency next season, but according to ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel, he could be on the move before then.

"They made it abundantly clear that Bennedict Mathurin is available in trade talks right now. They're going to utilize him to likely make a sizable upgrade in their frontcourt before the trade deadline because they don't want to pay Mathurin a nine-figure deal," Siegel said.

This report doesn't come as much of a surprise. In addition to Mathurin's contract situation, Indiana is in need of a new starting center following Myles Turner's departure. Jay Huff has emerged for the team, but he's probably not someone they can trust to elevate his game when the lights are bright.

The Pacers will look to re-enter the title picture once Tyrese Haliburton returns. But for them to make some noise, they will likely need a new starting center, and trading Mathurin is the easiest way for them to make this happen. It rids them of the potential headache in restricted free agency, and it would give them a new center to pair alongside Haliburton and Pascal Siakam.

But should the Pacers do this? That's a different question.

Should the Pacers trade Bennedict Mathurin?

The argument for Indiana trading Mathurin isn't outlandish. Nobody knows what exactly his long-term role with the team will be, and potentially having him come off the bench while making $25 million per year can be disastrous. Additionally, there are valid concerns about his fit in the Pacers' offensive system because he is a ball-stopper on a team that emphasizes ball movement and pushing the tempo.

However, the Pacers would be better off keeping the Arizona alum and dealing with any problems later on. He is way too good of a talent to move on from for mostly financial reasons, Kessler and Gafford are solid but not worth trading Mathurin for, and Huff has done enough to have the rest of the season to prove his worth at center.

Mathurin may not be the perfect fit in Indiana's system, but he is still proving how much he can contribute. Through 16 games this season, he has averaged 19.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists while shooting 44.1% from the field and 39.4% from beyond the arc. He is making a big impact as a shot-creator while also providing more effort defensively and as a passer.

Depending on what the trade looks like, moving on from Mathurin wouldn't be the worst thing in the world for Indiana. But there is no denying how talented he is, and given that he is just 23 years old, he still has a lot of upside. Ultimately, this isn't a risk worth taking, and the Pacers should just keep him around past this season.