If the Indiana Pacers want to find a permanent Myles Turner replacement (which they should), they may have no choice but to trade Bennedict Mathurin after next season.
The Pacers are giving Mathurin the biggest role of his career so far, which will be make-or-break for his stint in Indiana. Though the Canadian native has a lot of value and potential, there are concerns about his long-term fit in Indiana. Because of this, the Pacers may look to move on from him rather than sign him to a new contract, which he is eligible for this offseason.
Recently, ESPN's Tim Bontemps suggested that, if Mathurin shows out next year, the Pacers could flip him in a deal in order to find their long-term replacement for Turner.
"[If] Bennedict Mathurin has a great year, is he a way for the Pacers to get a replacement for Myles Turner long-term in some sort of deal...Does some team want him? Does that turn into a big, allow them to re-orient their roster, and then go forward with something like the group they had this past season?" Bontemps said.
This would be a controversial move, and there are reasons for Pacers fans to be against this idea. However, regardless of whether it is the right call or not, it could be an easy way for the team to replace Turner, which would greatly help their long-term outlook.
The Pacers need a Myles Turner replacement
Going into next season, it is looking like Indiana will run a center-by-committee. Right away, this looks like the right call.
The Texas native was not a perfect center, and he certainly had his flaws. However, Turner was also a fantastic fit in the Pacers' system. He could run, he could stretch the floor, and he could protect the rim. Additionally, he was a big part of the team's recent success. Because of this, it is going to be incredibly difficult for Indiana to find a one-for-one replacement for him.
This is where the committee at center comes into play and could actually work.
Instead of committing to one replacement for Turner, the Pacers will look to several players to make up for his absence. Currently, the team has Jay Huff, Isaiah Jackson, James Wiseman, and Tony Bradley on the roster. All of these players provide value in their own ways, and collectively, they could help Indiana replace their former big man. Furthermore, given that next year is going to be a re-tooling year anyway, the Pacers have a great opportunity to test them all out and see what works and what doesn't.
However, just because this could work for next season does not mean it is a long-term fix, and there are still reasons to be concerned about the situation.
While all of their centers are solid, none of them are established starting-level big men on a championship contender. Given that the Pacers were just one win away from winning an NBA Championship, it is safe to say they are looking to get back as soon as possible. In order for them to do so, they need a steadier center situation, which is where trading Mathurin could be a good idea.
There is a lot to like about Mathurin, and he could be a long-term contributor for the Pacers. However, his future with the team is still up in the air, and given that they have a major need at center, it could be in the team's best interest to trade him next year and officially find their next big man of the future.