Entering this season, there was some doubt about Bennedict Mathurin's future with the Indiana Pacers. The team made the Eastern Conference Finals last year while he was on the shelf, and he did not have a clear long-term role in Indiana. There was never any doubt that Mathurin had talent, but there were some concerns about his long-term fit with the team due to his playstyle. Furthermore, the Pacers have a difficult Mathurin decision they must make in the offseason.
Now in his third season in Indiana, Mathurin is eligible for a rookie-scale contract extension in the summer. With the Pacers also needing to make a decision on impending free agent Myles Turner, their payroll may become a bit more expensive than they initially wanted. Naturally, this could cause some uncertainty surrounding Mathurin's future with the team. However, given Rick Carlisle's latest comments, it is fair to assume that his future in Indiana has already been determined.
Rick Carlisle details Bennedict Mathurin's strengths, value to Pacers
Recently, Carlisle spoke about Mathurin and his role with the Pacers. In doing so, Carlisle made it clear that the Canadian native has a lot of strengths, especially as a scorer. Additionally, Carlisle mentioned that they need to work on developing Mathurin as a better on-court fit to maximize his and the Pacers' potential.
"The truth is this," Carlisle said, "in a game like the Dallas game or the first Brooklyn game, we don't have Tyrese, we're behind, we need buckets, we spread the floor and we give him the ball, he can create. That's not our team's default style of play, but in that element, he's as good as anybody I've seen. That's a real strength of his. But we've gotta work at melding his strengths with the things that our team needs to do to make it really work for him and our team."
Carlisle's comments about Mathurin are very telling, and they likely confirm that he is not going anywhere. Mathurin provides a lot of value to the Pacers, and it is clear that Carlisle sees that. Furthermore, Mathurin is still just 22 years old and should only continue to get better. Carlisle also made it a point to talk about wanting the Arizona alum to improve his fit with the team, which is another indication that the team has long-term plans for him.
There is a lot to like about Mathurin in Indiana. While it remains unclear whether his future with the team is as a starter or in a bench role, it is fair to say that the team would benefit from keeping him around regardless. The Pacers have a bright future, and Mathurin perfectly fits their timeline. Earlier this season, Carlisle spoke about Mathurin and praised his growth and development as a team-first player. It is clear that Mathurin has fans within the organization, and it is easy to see why.
Nothing is official yet as Mathurin is still just a candidate to get his contract extended in the summer. However, based on Carlisle's comments, it is safe to assume the former No. 6 overall pick will not go anywhere anytime soon.