The Indiana Pacers reportedly want to trade for a center this season. But for that to happen, they would likely have to trade Bennedict Mathurin due to his contract situation, and that is not a risk they should take unless they are getting a clear-cut, obvious upgrade at the position.
The Pacers should not trade Bennedict Mathurin this season
Indiana chose not to sign Mathurin to a rookie-scale contract extension this past offseason, and the reasons are valid.
The team wants to give the Canadian native a big opportunity to showcase his full value on the course of a full season, which is something he hasn't really had throughout his career so far. Furthermore, they want to see if he can be a long-term fit in the system, given that he is a ball-stopper on a team that relies heavily on ball movement. And if the Pacers are going to risk moving into the luxury tax to keep him around, they need to feel as confident in their decision as possible.
Mathurin may not be able to answer all of Indiana's questions this season, but he's answered the biggest one: the team can trust him to ball out and put the team on his back if they need him to.
In 13 games this season (all as a starter), Mathurin is averaging 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists while shooting 46% from the field and 43% from deep.
Furthermore, he is developing as a defender and is moving the ball a lot more (according to NBA.com, he is averaging a career-high 38 passes per game). His 2.9 turnovers per game are still a massive concern, but playmaking has never been his bread-and-butter, and it's clear that he's making an attempt to add some versatility to his game. And given his uptick in usage, it's normal for him to go through some growing pains.
Mathurin has gotten better each season and is continuing his trajectory. It's not too far-fetched to say that he could be an All-Star at some point, or at the very least in that discussion.
There is a lot to like about the 23-year-old and what he brings to the Pacers, and the team must do whatever it can to keep him around past this season. Even if that means looking past the trade market this season and just continuing to let him be him.
The truth is, Indiana needs Mathurin and his unique skillset. He can generate offense when things become stagnant, and he can get hot in a second. Plus, while guys like Daniel Gafford and Walker Kessler would be upgrades for the Pacers, they're not worth trading Mathurin for.
Indiana knows exactly what it needs to do to compete in the future, and that entails keeping the Arizona alum for as long as possible.