The Chicago Bulls are patiently creating a roster built to be a perennial playoff contender, not just a Play-In regular. Given their penchant for creating havoc, forcing turnovers and subsequently drowning their opposition in never-ending depth and athleticism, swinging a trade for Indiana Pacers wing Bennedict Mathurin would make sense.
And considering that the Pacers, without star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, are cemented at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, Mathurin could be on the trade block sooner rather than later.
It would behoove Bulls Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Arturas Karnisovas to kick the tires on the 23-year-old and debate adding him to a growing group that may enhance Mathurin's strengths and cover for his weaknesses.
Bennedict Mathurin would be a perfect addition to the Chicago Bulls
Chicago isn't necessarily short on wings. Heading into a Nov. 19 matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers, offseason acquisition Isaac Okoro has started all 13 games at small forward. Kevin Huerter has been the leader of the Bulls bench mob, which also features Patrick Williams.
But Mathurin would provide head coach Billy Donovan with something he doesn't have: A hyper-athletic bucket getter.
The former Arizona Wildcats standout isn't as burly as Okoro or as stout a defender, but he's a far more accomplished scorer. He's a much better athlete than Huerter and more threatening in transition and off the dribble. And he is, frankly, better than Williams at pretty much everything on a basketball court.
Ayo Dosunmu is similar in size to Mathurin, who's listed at 6-foot-6 and 210 pounds. Dosunmu has been one of Chicago's most critical players this season as a two-way force who's able to create shots off the dribble, but he's a one-of-one on this Bulls roster. Although he hasn't done it consistently yet, Mathurin has the necessary physical traits to be a strong on-ball defender.
And while he likes to create shots for himself more than others, he does possess the skill set to score in bunches.
He averaged 16.1 points last season; that number would be good for third on the Bulls right now behind only Josh Giddey and Coby White (who's only appeared in one game). In the Pacers' first two contests of 2025-26, Mathurin was a featured scorer without Haliburton and dropped 36 and 26 points, respectively. After missing 11 games with a toe injury, he stepped back into the lineup on Nov. 17 and immediately scored 25 points and hit three triples against the Detroit Pistons.
Mathurin should be gettable for the Bulls
Complicating Mathurin's situation in Indiana is the fact that he'll be a restricted free agent at the end of this season. The Pacers have already committed long-term money to Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith, all of whom have overlapping skill sets. It would be a surprise for a money-conscious organization to shell out more dollars to another guard/wing.
The Bulls, on the other hand, are expected to have the most salary cap space in the NBA this summer and will have to make decisions on the futures of White and Dosunmu. Perhaps Mathurin would be a more inexpensive option.
Chicago could get out in front of the rest of the league by acquiring Mathurin in-season and examining his fit with the current roster before making a decision. He wouldn't break the asset bank, either, if the Pacers are set on tanking this year and don't plan on keeping him around anyway.
The fit is there and the price might be right for Karnisovas and the Bulls to make their move.