Indiana Pacers star Bennedict Mathurin capped off last season by reaching the NBA Finals for the first time in his three-year career. Mathurin and his teammates ultimately fell short. They lost in a hard-fought Game 7 to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Canadian forward is now eligible for a contract extension starting in October. However, according to Evan Sidery, there has been little significant conversation regarding a long-term deal between the Pacers and Mathurin.
“There has been no recent substantial dialogue on a potential long-term extension for Bennedict Mathurin and the Pacers. It appears as if Indiana will be comfortable allowing Mathurin to become a restricted free agent after this season,” Sidery reported.
Mathurin is coming off a season where he averaged 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. His explosiveness continued in the NBA finals series as well. His standout performance in Game 3 earned him a place among elite company to score 25 points in a Finals game at age 22 or younger.
Reporter Doubts Pacers Will Hand Bennedict Mathurin Massive Extension
Tony East of Forbes also expressed doubts that Indiana will hand Mathurin a massive extension before the start of the new season.
“Mathurin could sign a five-year extension that begins in 2026-27 and is worth up to his maximum salary. At 25% of the salary cap, Mathurin’s top extension is a five-year, $240 million agreement—it could start at 30% of the cap, but that’s exceedingly unlikely. Mathurin isn’t going to sign a max deal, but any legal contract that fits within those salary and length parameters is permitted,” the report read.
Since his draft, Mathurin has steadily improved each season. With Tyrese Haliburton expected to miss a significant portion of the upcoming season, the Pacers may increasingly rely on Mathurin to lead their offense. The organization’s upcoming decisions regarding his contract and long-term role will likely have a major impact on the team’s trajectory in the near future.
The post REPORT: Indiana Pacers Seem Set To Let Bennedict Mathurin Test Restricted Free Agency Amid Extension Silence originally published on Total Pro Sports.