The Indiana Pacers needed to trade Bennedict Mathurin to acquire Ivica Zubac at the deadline. Zubac is an immediate upgrade at center. He was the best Myles Turner replacement on the market. Additionally, there were real concerns about Mathurin's long-term role and fit in Indiana. And given his impending restricted free agency status, it made sense for the team to trade him.
Still, that doesn't take away from how risky of a move it was. Even if he's not an ideal fit, Mathurin is an incredibly talented player and is a gifted iso scorer. He has All-Star-level potential, and he could turn into a real stud with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Indiana was right to trade him for Zubac specifically. But without Mathurin, the team doesn't have a go-to bucket-getter anymore, whereas he has the potential to really turn into something special.
The Pacers will miss Bennedict Mathurin
There is no doubt that the Pacers will miss having Mathurin around. He was a ton of fun to watch, and when he was hot, he was borderline unstoppable.
The Canadian native's time with the organization was a bit mixed. Throughout parts of four seasons with the team, Mathurin was often either looked at as a franchise cornerstone for the future or just a trade asset. And that was especially true this season.
Mathurin played 28 games for the Pacers this season, and he was incredible in the first half of the campaign. In his first 14 games, he averaged 20.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists while shooting 45.1% from the field and 42.2% from deep. But in his following 14 games, he averaged just 15.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists while shooting 41.1% from the field and 30.3% from deep.
One of the main problems with keeping the Arizona alum with the Pacers was that nobody knew which version of him was going to stick. He has always been streaky, and that was no different this season in an expanded role. But if the Pacers were ever going to give him a new contract and pay him potentially $20-$30 million a year, they needed to know which version of Mathurin was the real one.
Regardless, there was never any denying that Mathurin is incredibly talented. He can score at all three levels. He can contribute as a starter and coming off the bench. And he made strides as an all-around team player.
The Pacers needed to trade Mathurin to land Zubac. That much is obvious. But don't be too shocked if he turns into a star in Los Angeles while they still look for a way to replace him and his value.