NBA Rumors: Pacers, Bennedict Mathurin, Pelicans, Dejounte Murray, Blazers

Pacers

The sense around the league is that Indiana is listening hard on Bennedict Mathurin and may ultimately move him before next Thursday’s deadline, per Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.

Mathurin has already been linked to New Orleans, but the Pelicans are far from the only team sniffing around.

The former lottery pick has dealt with a right thumb sprain and turf toe, limiting him to 25 games, but he returned Monday and is still producing at a strong clip (17.7 points per game in 31.8 minutes in the final year of his rookie deal).

The larger issue appears to be financial. Indiana already has more than $177 million in guaranteed money on the books for next season, and Siegel reports the Pacers are not eager to hand Mathurin a big restricted free agent extension.

If he isn’t dealt now, a sign-and-trade scenario this summer could be the fallback.

Either way, Mathurin feels like one of the more realistic young names to watch over the next week.

Pelicans

There is also league chatter that Dejounte Murray and Klutch Sports would not mind a fresh start, Siegel reports.

That said, this is complicated. Murray is still working back from an Achilles tear and has not yet made his season debut, which makes moving his three-year, $94 million contract a tough sell.

Add in a newly crowded backcourt — Jordan Poole and Jeremiah Fears arrived last offseason — and the fit looks murkier than ideal.

The interest may be there. The timing probably is not.

Trail Blazers

Despite Jerami Grant and Jrue Holiday being viewed as available in theory, Portland does not see itself as a seller, per Siegel.

Holiday, in particular, would only be moved if the return “immediately improves their outlook.”

In other words, this is not a fire sale. More like opportunistic listening.

If Portland makes a move, it sounds like it will be for real value, and not a rebuild punt.