The Indiana Pacers roster appears to be set in stone for the 2024-25 NBA season, and that is a good thing. They had a relatively quiet offseason this summer, but the Pacers front office made sure to keep some major players around and essentially run it back again next season with the same core that brought them to the Eastern Conference Finals last season.
This summer, the Pacers re-signed Pascal Siakam, Obi Toppin, and James Johnson. Additionally, they extended Andrew Nembhard to a long-term contract extension as well. Though many doubt their chances of repeating their successful run from last season, the Pacers are well-equipped to prove everybody wrong once again.
However, we are still just a couple of months away from the start of the 2024-25 season, where there will be a lot to look forward to for the Pacers, including position battles and players who may be nearing the end of their time with the team.
In an article for Bleacher Report, writer Grant Hughes wrote about one question every team in the NBA is still facing. And when it came time to write about the Pacers, Hughes begged the question of whether Bennedict Mathurin and Jarace Walkers are “trade chips” rather than future franchise pieces for the team.
Bleacher Report names Bennedict Mathurin and Jarace Walker as potential trade pieces for the Pacers
The idea of trading Mathurin and/or Walker is interesting but risky.
Mathurin has been with the Pacers since they selected him with the sixth pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Since then, the Arizona alum has looked like a fantastic young player with tons of potential. In his rookie year, he averaged 16.7 points on 43.4% from the field. Furthermore, he finished eighth in Sixth Man of the Year voting and fourth in Rookie of the Year voting.
Last season, Mathurin was shooting the ball more efficiently and continued showcasing his talents off the bench, but he suffered a devastating shoulder injury that forced him to miss the last month of the season, as well as the playoffs. His potential is obvious, and trading him at this point is too risky for the Pacers to do.
As for Walker, he had a disappointing rookie season last year, but he looked solid in the 2025 Summer League. Trading him now, like with Mathurin, is not a risk worth taking. However, if he fails to crack the rotation this season, it may be a legitimate option down the line, especially in return for a player who can help the Pacers in their quest for a championship in the near future.
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