Bennedict Mathurin hasn't been a disappointment in the NBA. The No. 6 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft has averaged over 16 points per game in his four-year NBA career, scoring somewhat efficiently, usually staying on the floor and avoiding injuries. But he hasn't been quite the lightning rod scorer the Pacers hoped he would be, either. Now, with his restricted free agency coming up, and potential big changes to the Pacers roster coming in the form of a top draft pick, a trade feels realistic (maybe even probable) in the coming weeks.
The Detroit Pistons should be all over that. Like I said, Mathurin hasn't (yet) turned into the 25 point-per-game elite bucket-getter he had the potential to be. Maybe he does turn into that guy still, but at the very least, he'd give the Pistons another weapon who can create some offense for himself on a team that could use some more of that.
Currently, the Pistons are No. 9 in offensive rating, so it's not like they're sputtering along. But personnel-wise, things get thin quickly, and the Pistons could be in a situation where they end up relying on players to do more than they're capable of in the postseason. Mathurin isn't an All-Star, but he's a good scorer. And one more good scorer may be all the Pistons require.
Mahturin could be the best value option the Pistons can acquire
Of course, adding Michael Porter Jr. would probably be the biggest splash the Pistons can make, but he's going to have plenty of suitors. Mathurin, on the other hand, might be more easily acquireable.
Him for Isaiah Stewart works straight-up, for the record, and the Pacers have not been shy about their desire to add frontcourt help before the deadline. Whether Pistons fans would want to part with Beef Stew, though, is the big question there.
Mathurin has not been playing high-stakes basketball this year (the Pacers are effectively tanking thanks to so many injuries to key players) but he is playing some of the best basketball of his career, averaging a career-high in points (17.8) and shooting 36% from 3-point range on a career-high six attempts per game.
He was also in the Pacers' rotation throughout their entire run to the NBA Finals last year, giving any potential inquiring team confidence that he can stay on the court in important games. Mathurin averaged 11 points per game and shot the ball decently well throughout the four series.
Maybe the Indiana Pacers don't want to make a deal with an in-division rival. But the Detroit Pistons, in search of a potential complementary backcourt option to Cade Cunningham, need to at least test the waters on Ben Mathurin.