The Indiana Pacers lost a key member of the bench last season about three-quarters of the way through the year. Bennedict Mathurin got hurt against the Dallas Mavericks. While he finished the game, he ended up suffering a torn labrum in his shooting shoulder.
Mathurin would have surgery and missed the rest of the season. He finished the season having played 59 games. Instead of being on the Pacers’ run to the Eastern Conference Finals, he had to sit on the bench and watch the team come within four games of making the NBA Finals.
That injury certainly hurt both Mathurin and Indiana. He was a big part of scoring on the bench. At the same time, the Pacers were able to be one of the final four teams standing despite the fact that he wasn’t available. The injury could end up being a blessing in disguise.
Why Bennedict Mathurin’s injury might end up being a good thing for the Pacers
The injury might end up being a blessing in disguise. The Pacers can look at it in two ways now. They were a final four team without him, so maybe he could be a piece they use in a trade. He’s still young and other teams around the league would certainly covet him if he were made available.
Indiana could also view him as a young piece who should only continue to grow and get better who they want to keep. He showed some progress last year before he got hurt as far as playing faster is concerned. While he still needs some help on defense, he’s on a cheap contract and he’s a good scorer.
That injury ended up giving the Pacers options that they didn’t know they had. While it ended up stifling some of the growth that Mathurin was going through, he learned some things too. He watched what it takes to be a winning team on both ends of the floor.
I wouldn’t put it past Kevin Pritchard to possibly move him in a trade for a third star. Still, he is more than likely staying in Indiana.
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