Although they have already been written off by most experts after star Tyrese Haliburton's Achilles tear, the Indiana Pacers shouldn't be counted out.
Having Haliburton miss all of this season can't be considered a good thing, but it has already given more opportunities to players such as Andrew Nembhard and especially Benn Mathurin. Pacers fans are no doubt hoping that Mathurin makes a big leap into stardom this season so Indy can pair him with Haliburton and Pascal Siakam next season.
Thus far, Mathurin has looked like he can break out. During the preseason, he had a massive showing against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs, who are an elite defensive team when he plays. Mathurin looked like a star, dropping 31 points in 22 minutes, including going 11-12 from the field.
That wasn't a fluke either. In an NBA Finals rematch against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Mathurin dropped 36 points in double overtime and displayed the vast offensive potential that many suspected that he had.
Bennedict Mathurin has flashed star potential for the Pacers
OKC is no slouch defensively, ranking first in defensive efficiency last season. Therefore, Mathurin having a monster game against them proves that his game can scale up and take on a larger role.
He will have plenty of runway this season with the Pacers having to adjust how they play without Haliburton. Expect them to continue to play a more equal opportunity style of offense with Mathurin being able to get buckets in the flow of the game.
He has also shown a knack for drawing contact, allowing him to earn trips to the line, a key skill that many young players lack. More shots, more free throws, and more opportunity mean that Mathurin seems like a potential Most Improved Player of the Year candidate.
Mathurin also has the financial incentive to have a strong season. He and the Pacers failed to agree to a rookie extension. That means that he will hit restricted free agency. Normally, that strongly favors the team rather than the player, but next summer will see several teams have massive cap space.
As a result, if Mathurin has a stellar season, a team could absolutely throw a max offer sheet his way. The Pacers will, of course, have matching rights and would almost certainly match in a heartbeat if he proves worthy of a max contract.
All told, the Pacers are hoping for Mathurin to develop into a star in the absence of Haliburton. Thus far, it appears Mathurin has indeed taken a major step forward, keeping the hope of a big three of Mathurin, Haliburton, and Siakam alive for next season.