Bennedict Mathurin is a popular trade candidate for the Indiana Pacers this season. However, given that it still remains to be seen exactly how Tyrese Haliburton will perform when he returns from his Achilles injury next season, it surely couldn't hurt keeping a bucket-getter like Mathurin around for at least a little while longer.
The Pacers need to keep Bennedict Mathurin around
The reasons to trade Mathurin this season are completely fair. It's true that he's not a great fit on the Pacers, given how much he likes to put the ball on the floor on a team that emphasizes pushing the tempo and moving the ball.
Additionally, he's likely headed for restricted free agency this summer. And while this means Indiana can match any offer Mathurin gets, whether it actually wants to or not is a completely different question.
As it stands, the Arizona alum could get around $20-30 million per year in his next contract if the Pacers choose to re-sign him. For some context, only two players on the roster are set to make more than $20 million next season (Haliburton and Pascal Siakam), according to Basketball-Reference.com.
For a team that has avoided paying the luxury tax for two decades, re-signing Mathurin to that type of deal might not be too appealing, especially because of all the questions they may still have about him and his fit.
To avoid this headache, the Pacers could just move on from the 23-year-old and address some other needs, particularly their center situation. But that might not be the right call.
There is no denying that Mathurin is incredibly talented. He is a skilled isolation scorer who can get hot in a second, and he has a skillset that's unique to Indiana's roster. Furthermore, what makes him stand out on the Pacers is that he is a fantastic shot-creator and can help generate offense when things are stagnant. And that is exactly what makes him essential to their success.
Once the Pacers get Haliburton back, things should return to normal. They will be able to run their fast-paced offense once again, and they should be able to re-enter the title picture. However, it remains to be seen if they will be able to do it right away.
Achilles injuries are not easy for players to come back from. Not everyone is Kevin Durant, who miraculously may have gotten even better after he missed the 2019-20 season due to an Achilles tear. Haliburton being just 25 years old at the time of his injury certainly bodes well for his recovery, but it's not a guarantee that he will return to form as soon as next year.
The Pacers may choose to ease the Wisconsin native back in once he's healthy again, just to not put too much pressure on him right away. This is great for the long haul, but the team does have championship dreams, and they will have a chance to realize those as soon as next year. And if Haliburton is too slow on the mend, it could make things much more difficult for them to make it happen.
This is where Mathurin comes in.
He isn't even somewhat close to a Haliburton duplicate, but the Canadian native can generate offense and take a lot of pressure off of him (and Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, etc.) because of his playstyle. And considering how important having an elite offense is to the Pacers' success, this is going to be important for them to keep in mind.
Trading Mathurin might not be the end of the world, but Indiana needs to think long and hard before it makes a decision. And at this point, it might be crystal clear exactly what the team needs to do to maximize its long-term success.