Bennedict Mathurin has come off the bench in each of the Indiana Pacers' last four games since returning from his three-week absence, and he has been outstanding.
Since his return, the Canadian native has averaged 17.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists while shooting 51.2% from the field and 45.5% from beyond the arc off the bench.
This season has been a bit of a roller coaster for Mathurin, but it seems like he's finding his groove once again (the time off to recover from his thumb injury likely helped as well). And given that his future with the Pacers is still up in the air ahead of this week's trade deadline, his bounce-back couldn't have come at a better time.
The Pacers have a big Bennedict Mathurin decision to make
Mathurin is viewed by many as Indiana's most likely trade candidate this season, and it's not hard to see why.
The Pacers opted not to sign the Arizona alum to a rookie-scale contract extension last offseason, meaning he is expected to hit restricted free agency this summer. And given that there are genuine concerns over his long-term role and fit with the team, it could make sense for them to trade him to get some value back instead of either overpaying to keep him or losing him for nothing.
Additionally, Mathurin could be a pretty sweet trade chip, given that the Pacers may be interested in trading for a new center this season. The 23-year-old is an incredibly gifted wing who can generate his own offense, and that will always be appealing to teams in the NBA.
However, Mathurin is also way too good for the Pacers to just move on from. He is a skilled scorer who can get hot in a second. Additionally, he is improving as a defender and playmaker, and head coach Rick Carlisle knows exactly how important he is to this team (h/t Dustin Dopirak of the IndyStar).
"I thought (Mathurin) played a terrific game," Carlisle said after the Pacers' loss to the Rockets on Monday. "His reads of situations, he's come so far. He made some very good passes. He had four assists the last game. He gets to the free-throw line. He causes problems. He's really come a long way. We needed to get him back. We just need the manpower and on a night like tonight where you've got a tough, physical team, he can get you 20, 25 points and help you stay in the game."
Trading Mathurin could make sense in theory. This would be the easiest way for Indiana to address its biggest need and strengthen its roster as it looks to re-enter the title picture next season. But based on his recent play, Mathurin is further proving he can be a legitimate asset to the Pacers for the long haul. And keeping him around should be their main priority ahead of the trade deadline.