Pacers' selection of Bennedict Mathurin gets mixed reviews in NBA Draft grades

Arizona’s Bennedict Mathurin was reportedly a workout warrior, someone who impressed at every destination along the way to the 2022 NBA Draft. He’s a great athlete who plays with extraordinary confidence. I think he will play more off-ball at the next level, but I could see him getting hot and having some huge scoring performances at the next level. Mathurin rises to the big moments. My biggest concern is about his defensive output, but I trust he can figure it out.

6. Indiana Pacers: SG Bennedict Mathurin, Arizona

More than any other projected lottery pick, Mathurin is the one whose stock I raised the most after evaluating him compared to what I thought during the season. You dive in, and what is not to like? He's a 6-6 athletic wing who can do a lot of things and has All-Star potential. Grade: A

31. Indiana Pacers (from Rockets via Cavaliers): PG Andrew Nembhard, Gonzaga

Nembhard has good positional size and is a reliable shooter and distributor who can play both on and off the ball, making him a safe selection. His lack of explosiveness and ability to separate may keep him from taking over as a starting caliber player, but his production could help him stick as a depth piece on a Pacers team that needs more PG talent in the pipeline. Grade: B

48. Indiana Pacers (from Timberwolves): SF Kendall Brown, Baylor

Brown was a top-30 prospect in our rankings who I thought had a real shot at going Round 1. Had some inconsistencies as a freshman but the former five-star recruit brings great length and major upside to Indiana. Grade: A

6. Indiana Pacers: Bennedict Mathurin, SG, Arizona

Mathurin is a plug-and-play guard who can impact the offensive end of the court with his playmaking and versatility. He's not the best 3-point shooting guard in the draft but he has a high release, and can shoot and pass over the defense with his 6-foot-6 frame. He's a great secondary addition to Tyrese Haliburton and Malcolm Brogdon.

The Pacers didn’t do anything to drastically change their ceiling for next season, but they made two solid picks in Mathurin and Nembhard. Neither projects to be a superstar, but Mathurin will be able to play right away and Nembhard is a high-floor guard. It’s hard not to come away satisfied, though Indiana’s offseason has yet to take shape if a Malcolm Brogdon trade is still in the works.

The Pac-12 Player of the Year and Second Team All-American is super athletic and possesses one of the best shooting strokes in the draft class. Where Mathurin does the most damage is in transition. He flashes on the run with the ability to throw down that momentum-changing slam or deliver a pass that will raise eyebrows.

The negative with Mathurin? He is raw defensively and can be turnover prone at times. He can be a quality second option for a team, with the ability to take over at times in games if all goes right because he knows how to shoot over people and with the right coaching staff, could maximize upside.

The Pacers are set at the guard position with Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield, T.J. McConnell and Malcolm Brogdon. Mathurin gives them a reliable wing who can play off lead guard play. His shooting stroke will help Indiana, and he can add a different dimension for them in transition.

I thought the Pacers went 3-for-3 on their selections. Mathurin is the perfect scoring wing to make up Indiana's backcourt of the future with Tyrese Haliburton. Nembhard is a pure floor general who will have a long career in the league as a reserve guard. Brown is an athletic freak with immense upside potential, which was a bit of a steal at No. 48. The Pacers got better and brightened their future on draft night.

If the Pacers are really pivoting into a rebuild — still waiting for the Malcolm Brogdon trade, and maybe the Myles Turner one, too — then they’re forming quite the perimeter trio to lead it. They drafted Chris Duarte last summer, added Tyrese Haliburton at the trade deadline and now complete the trio with Mathurin.

He is a high-level athlete and shot-maker. If you know nothing else about his profile, you at least recognize there are reasons to be excited.

There isn’t much creation in his game right now (for himself or his teammates), and his defensive impact comes and goes. Still, he’ll give the Pacers plenty of perimeter shots and transition scores out of the gate, and they could eventually have a real talent on their hands if they help iron out his weaknesses. Grade: B-

Andrew Nembhard, PG, Gonzaga — A-

Kendall Brown, SF, Baylor — B

The Pacers need star-power. They should have done everything possible to trade up for the hometown hero Jaden Ivey. They could have taken a swing for a high-upside wing like Shaedon Sharpe or AJ Griffin. Instead, the Pacers played it safe with Mathurin, a bouncy athlete, good three-point shooter, and awesome cutter who should fit nicely next to Tyrese Haliburton. We had Mathurin at No. 11 on our board because he isn’t great at creating offense for himself and others off the dribble. We also have questions about how he translates defensively. Mathurin just feels a little one-dimensional to us with a loose handle and a lack of refined playmaking chops. How you feel about this pick probably comes down to how you feel about Mathurin’s defense. Ultimately, the Pacers are a team that badly needed to take an upside swing, and it feels like they left higher-ceiling options on the board.