The Indiana Pacers made one of the boldest moves of the trade deadline, sending Bennedict Mathurin to the Clippers in exchange for Ivica Zubac. On paper, it’s a clear positional upgrade-Zubac fills an immediate need at center and was arguably the best available option to replace Myles Turner.
But while the move makes sense from a roster construction standpoint, it’s not without its risks. Trading away a young, high-upside scorer like Mathurin is the kind of decision that can come back to haunt a franchise if things break the wrong way.
Let’s start with the rationale. The Pacers had legitimate concerns about Mathurin’s long-term fit in Indiana.
With his restricted free agency looming, the front office was facing a tough decision: commit serious money to a player who hasn’t fully solidified his role, or move on while his value is still high. In choosing the latter, they landed a reliable, physical big man in Zubac-someone who can anchor the paint, set hard screens, and bring a level of interior toughness the team has been missing.
From a win-now perspective, it checks out.
But that doesn’t erase the sting of losing Mathurin.
The 21-year-old Canadian has flashed serious star potential since entering the league. He’s a dynamic isolation scorer who can get buckets at all three levels.
When he’s locked in, he’s a problem-plain and simple. Just look at the first half of this season: over his first 14 games, Mathurin averaged 20.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 45.1% from the field and a scorching 42.2% from deep.
That’s not just good-that’s the kind of production that gets you paid.
But then came the other side of the coin. In his next 14 games, his numbers dipped to 15.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists, with his shooting percentages falling to 41.1% from the field and just 30.3% from beyond the arc.
That inconsistency has been a theme throughout his time in Indiana. One night he’s lighting it up, the next he’s struggling to find rhythm.
And that volatility made it hard for the Pacers to fully commit to him as a foundational piece.
Still, the talent is undeniable. Mathurin has shown he can be effective both as a starter and off the bench, and he’s made noticeable strides in his all-around game.
He’s not just a scorer anymore-he’s learning how to impact winning in other ways. And that’s what makes this trade so tricky.
If he puts it all together in Los Angeles, the Clippers might have just picked up a future All-Star.
For Indiana, the challenge now becomes finding someone who can replicate the scoring punch Mathurin brought to the floor. As streaky as he was, he gave the Pacers a go-to option when they needed a bucket. Without him, that responsibility shifts elsewhere-and it’s not clear yet who’s ready to step into that role.
There’s no question that trading for Zubac was the right move for now. He fills a critical need and gives the Pacers a better shot at competing in the short term. But don’t be surprised if, a year or two down the line, we’re talking about how Bennedict Mathurin blossomed into a star out west-while Indiana is still searching for that missing spark.