Report: Teams Are Monitoring The Bennedict Mathurin Situation In Indiana

Bennedict Mathurin has been a silver lining in a deeply troubled season for the Indiana Pacers, who are still reeling from the departure of Myles Turner and still dealing with the absence of the injured Tyrese Haliburton. It’s possible, though, that Mathurin’s solid play this season will make him a bargaining chip rather than a long-term pillar of the franchise.

According to a new report by Forbes’ Evan Sidery, the Pacers might be looking to ship the four-year pro as other ball clubs eye his skill set with great interest.

“Rival teams are monitoring whether the Pacers will shop Bennedict Mathurin during trade season,” Sidery tweeted on Monday. “Due a lucrative extension this summer, Mathurin is averaging a career-high 17.8 points per game.” 

Ultimately, Mathurin might become an asset to plug one of his team’s biggest holes. “Indiana could end up dealing Mathurin to obtain their long-term answer at center,” Sidery added. 

In terms of trade value, the 6-foot-5 Canadian wing has made himself quite the commodity, averaging a career-best 17.8 points per game on 42.3% shooting from the field. While some teams might have concerns about his availability, as he has played just 20 of the Pacers’ 36 games at this point, Mathurin’s ceiling as a three-level scorer remains quite high.

The cellar-dwelling Pacers (6–30) are nowhere near the playoff contenders that they were last season, and if Mathurin wants to refine his craft with a winning team, there is no shortage of ball clubs in the NBA who could use his firepower in their backcourt. Though Mathurin mostly played second fiddle to Andrew Nembhard in the 2024–25 campaign, he had his moments when he looked comfortable as the number one scoring option on the floor.

The Pacers, then, can leverage Mathurin’s scoring prowess to fill their void at the center position, which still hasn’t recovered from Turner’s exit. If Haliburton returns at full health next season, he’ll need a talented big man who could complement his skills as a court general. It’s plausible, then, that the Pacers front office will prioritize a quality center over Mathurin’s explosiveness on the scoring end.