Pacers Predicted to Shop Promising Young Player

This is a transitional year for the Indiana Pacers. Last season, they shocked the NBA by making the NBA Finals and maybe even being a Tyrese Halliburton torn Achilles away from being the most surprising NBA champions ever. 

This year looks a lot different. Besides missing Haliburton, the Pacers have dealt with a myriad of different injuries, and now they are the worst team in the league. So will the Pacers use this transitional season to make some moves to better prepare for next year?

Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report predicted “What Every NBA Team Would Do If the Trade Deadline Was Today,” and his Pacers prediction might surprise some people. 

“Bennedict Mathurin and the Indiana Pacers never got close to an extension prior to the season, which means the fourth-year guard will enter restricted free agency this summer. Because Mathurin used this season to cement his defense-free, score-only reputation, the Pacers are unlikely to pay market rates for his services.

Maybe if Mathurin had shown more playmaking chops or improved work as a stopper, things would be different. But the former No. 6 pick's per-36 numbers (20.3 points, 2.3 assists, and 2.7 turnovers) are worse on balance than they were last season, and he still grades out as a massive negative on D.”

Mathurin is the Pacers’ second-leading scorer this season at 17.8 points per game. Last year, he was a key piece to some of their playoff wins as well. That’s why it may be a surprise to some that they would consider shopping him around. 

There are a lot of teams that need a scoring spark like Mathurin. If the Pacers don’t believe he fits into their future plans, they definitely should take a look at what they could get for him on the trade market.