The Indiana Pacers may be approaching a defining decision on Bennedict Mathurin as the NBA trade deadline nears.
With Mathurin set to enter restricted free agency this summer and Indiana still searching for a long-term answer at center, league insiders are increasingly connecting the dots between the two timelines. ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks recently raised the question of whether the Pacers are comfortable letting Mathurin play out the season given the financial and roster implications ahead.
"Are the Pacers comfortable with Bennedict Mathurin playing out the season on the roster?" Marks wrote. "Mathurin is a restricted free agent in the summer… They are $16 million below the luxury tax next season and have not paid it since 2005- 06. The Pacers are also searching for a starting center since Myles Turner left in free agency."
Indiana's decision not to extend Mathurin on a rookie-scale deal last offseason already hinted at hesitation. A long-term contract would likely push the Pacers closer to, or beyond, a luxury tax line the franchise has avoided for nearly two decades. That reality has only sharpened amid a disappointing 6-21 start to the 2025-26 season.
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Why Mathurin's Fit Is Under Review
Mathurin's talent has never been in question. The 23-year-old wing is enjoying the most productive stretch of his NBA career, averaging 20.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists while shooting 44.6 percent from the field and 41.1 percent from three across 15 games.
He has thrived in an expanded role with Tyrese Haliburton sidelined by an Achilles injury, showing improved defensive effort and a greater willingness to move the ball.
Still, questions remain about how seamlessly his isolation-heavy scoring fits within Indiana's preferred up-tempo, ball-movement system when the roster is fully healthy. Those concerns, paired with looming contract demands, have made Mathurin a legitimate trade chip.
Pacers ‘Abundantly Clear’ About Availability
According to ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel, Indiana's stance around the league is no longer subtle.
"They made it abundantly clear that Bennedict Mathurin is available in trade talks right now," Siegel said on Clutch Scoops. "They are going to utilize him to likely make a sizable upgrade to their front court before the trade deadline because they don't want to pay Mathurin a nine-figure deal."
Siegel added that Indiana is weighing multiple center archetypes, ranging from stretch bigs such as Kristaps Porziņģis to more traditional interior options like Daniel Gafford or Walker Kessler. Gafford, currently with Dallas, has emerged as a realistic target after averaging 8.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks on 61% shooting.
Kessler on the other hand, is out for the season after suffering torn labrum in his left shoulder but having him already on the roster would help in attaining his bird rights as he is set to be a restricted free agent this summer.
Some may believe that moving Mathurin is a mistake given his recent uptick in production, but the reality for Indiana is that moving on from the former lottery pick has less to do with talent and more to do with roster management. As an organization that does not have a history of attracting free agents or going over the luxury tax to acquire talent, utilizing expiring contracts like Mathurin’s are one of their few avenues to upgrade the talent on their roster.
If Indiana believes Mathurin's next contract and on-court role do not align with that vision, leveraging his peak value before the Feb. 5 deadline may be the cleanest path forward.
Newsweek