NBA Trade Rumors: 2 Pacers Expected To Be Trade Candidates This Summer

The Indiana Pacers have had an up-and-down season, currently standing 5th in the Eastern Conference, but there have been some recent changes to the lineup that could result in two Pacers becoming trade candidates this summer.

Rick Carlisle has reduced playing time for the Pacers’ recent lottery picks, Bennedict Mathurin and Jarace Walker.

Mathurin has gone four straight games not playing 25 minutes. Walker continues receiving DNPs.

Teams will be calling Indiana about these two prospects this summer. pic.twitter.com/IlxXW95E0a
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) March 16, 2025

Per insider Evan Sidery, the reduced playing time for two recent lottery picks, Bennedict Mathurin and Jarace Walker, could mean the end of the line for them in the Hoosier State. He says teams will be calling the Pacers on those two this offseason.

Walker, the 8th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, has been a healthy scratch (Did Not Play--Coach's Decision) for three straight games, and has only played more than 14 minutes once in the Pacers' last 15 games (with a couple of other DNP-CDs thrown in). The 6'8" power forward has not shown much development this year as a sophomore over his rookie season, averaging 5.5 points and 2.9 rebounds.

Mathurin, the No. 6 pick in 2022, looked like a real keeper, after a strong first season that saw him finish 4th in Rookie of the Year balloting, averaging 16.7 points. And while he started this season strong, his average minutes per game have continually dipped over the past four months, down to an average of just 18 minutes a night over his last four games, and only 11:54 in the Pacers' loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday. He did miss a few games a couple of weeks back with a sprained wrist, so that may be hampering him.

Mathurin has one more year of team control on his rookie contract, next year at $9M, while Walker had his team option of $6.7M picked up for next season, and still has one more year at the team's discretion after that.

Plenty of clubs would be happy to take either player off the Pacers' hands, in particular Mathurin.