Ranking the Pacers' 3 best trade assets from most to least replaceable

1. Bennedict Mathurin (most replaceable)

Of every player currently on the Pacers, Mathurin is perhaps the most common one that appears in trade rumors.

The Canadian native had a fantastic rookie campaign during the 2022-23 season after the Pacers drafted him sixth overall. On the year, Mathurin averaged 16.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. Mostly utilized off the bench, Mathurin finished eighth in Sixth Man of the Year voting that year. He also finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting.

Last season was a bit of a roller coaster for Mathurin. Statistically, his numbers went down, but he shot the ball more efficiently (43.4 FG% to 44.6 FG% and 32.3 3FG% to 37.4 3FG%). He took home the MVP award for the 2024 NBA Rising Stars Challenge, scoring 22 points. However, he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in March that forced him to miss the rest of the season.

Mathurin is a popular trade candidate because, while he is a promising wing with sky-high upside, he may not fit what the Pacers need. He is a great scorer, but the Pacers already have a plethora of players who are ahead of Mathurin on the depth chart. This also does not include young players like Jarace Walker and Johnny Furphy who could become key players on the team for the long haul.

The 22-year-old is a player who would probably benefit from being on another team. Unless he can become a consistent force on the defensive end, he may not be a long-term fit in Indiana. And with him due for a rookie extension next summer, it begs the question of whether the 2024-25 season will be Mathurin's last as a Pacer.