The Indiana Pacers already lost one valuable asset for nothing in free agency last year when Myles Turner joined the Milwaukee Bucks. It's not the exact same situation, but given Bennedict Mathurin's impending restricted free agency (and the team's reported desire to land an upgrade at center), his days in Indiana might be numbered.
The Pacers may have to trade Bennedict Mathurin
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It's easy to look at Mathurin's free agency and sort of just assume he's going to stick around if Indiana doesn't trade him. Since he's going to be a restricted free agent, the team can match any offer he gets from an opposing team and have the final say in where he stays or not.
The thing is, though, the Pacers have avoided paying the luxury tax for two decades, and they may want that streak to continue past this summer. Re-signing Mathurin, who could realistically get around $25 million per year in his next contract, would make it incredibly difficult for them to justify keeping him around. This is especially true given that there are still questions about his long-term role with the team.
Plus, Indiana reportedly has interest in [trading for a new starting center](https://8points9seconds.com/nba-insider-delivers-harsh-reality-check-pacers-center-plans-amid-trade-season) this season. There is a lot to like about Jay Huff and Isaiah Jackson, but neither of them can be trusted to start in the NBA Finals. And the Pacers know that.
For them to trade for a real upgrade, they're likely going to have to include Mathurin because of his contract situation and value. It ultimately comes down to what their biggest priorities are, and given the state of their team, getting a new starting center should be at the top of their list. Even if [that means moving on from Mathurin.](https://8points9seconds.com/pacers-must-avoid-tempting-bennedict-mathurin-decision-amid-trade-season)
The Arizona alum has a ton of talent, and he could still be an asset in Indiana for the long run. He is a gifted isolation scorer who can get hot in a second, and he still has a lot of room to grow at just 23 years old. But keeping him around can set the Pacers back for a long time, and that might not be a risk they want to take.
At the end of the day, there are pros and cons to trading Mathurin for the Pacers. Doing so would give them a much more well-rounded team with an upgrade at center, and it would also allow them to avoid any potential headaches that come with his free agency. On the other hand, however, Mathurin is an incredible player. And moving on from someone of his caliber (especially at his age) is tough.
The Pacers have to make a Mathurin decision this season. But as it stands, it might not be too hard to figure out what they end up doing ahead of February's trade deadline.