Garrison Mathews' second 10-day contract with the Indiana Pacers expired, but it seems like he is not going to be on he move.
According to Forbes' Tony East, the Pacers signed Mathews to a standard contract for the rest of the season. In a corresponding move, Indiana waived Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, who was a DNP in each of the team's last two games.
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl will be waived to open the roster spot for Mathews, league source says. https://t.co/0jj5jv92aH
— Tony East (@TonyREast) December 11, 2025
Garrison Mathews has been solid for the Pacers
He hasn't been lighting the world on fire, but the 29-year-old has played some good basketball for the Pacers, especially now that he's seemingly becoming more comfortable with the team.
In his last four games, Mathews averaged 8.5 points and 1.3 rebounds while shooting 50% from the field and 46.7% from deep in 19.3 minutes. This includes a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Dec. 1 when he scored 15 points on 3-for-3 shooting from the field.
Mathews is never going to be the most important player on Indiana's roster, but he's still making a bit of an impact on the court. He is an exceptional three-point shooter, shooting a career 38.1% from deep. Additionally, he plays with effort and energy and can run in the Pacers' system.
The Tennessee native has plenty of shortcomings, particularly defensively, but he is still someone who can provide value. This is especially true right now with players like Aaron Nesmith and Ben Sheppard on the shelf.
Signing Mathews to a standard contract is a low-risk, high-reward move for the Pacers, and it's clear that he already has some fans in the organization, including head coach Rick Carlisle.
"He's an NBA player with an NBA skill. He has gravity. The stats will take care of themselves," Carlisle said about Mathews after the Pacers signed him.
It remains to be seen what the rest of Mathews' Pacers tenure will entail. As it stands, it's safe to assume that he's going to be relegated to a lesser role once Sheppard and Nesmith return from their injuries. Still, he is showcasing exactly what he brings to the table, and it seems to be enough for Indiana to keep him around for potentially the rest of this season.