Inside The Wizards

Pacers Guard the Wizards Should Call About

The NBA's recent Eastern Conference champions have an athlete who can deliver for the Washington Wizards.
Scott Conrad|
Jun 19, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins (21) goes after a loose ball against Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) and guard Bennedict Mathurin (00) in the fourth quarter during game six of the 2025 NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Jun 19, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins (21) goes after a loose ball against Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) and guard Bennedict Mathurin (00) in the fourth quarter during game six of the 2025 NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images | Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

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Washington Wizards

The Washington Wizards are hopeful to improve on an 18-64 season where they missed the playoffs for a fourth straight season. Upgrades were made in the past few months via the trade market.

General manager Will Dawkins got aggressive in putting experienced talent in place with additions such as Khris Middleton and CJ McCollum. The losses of Jordan Pool, Malcolm Brogdon and Kyle Kuzma should seem minimal with a strong draft class featuring first-round pick Tre Johnson, Will Riley and Jamir Watkins.

If the Wizards are to shock the NBA world and be a sleeper team in the Eastern Conference like the Detroit Pistons were last season, or the Orlando Magic prior to that, another trade may be what's necessary to see immediate results.

There's an NBA team in the East who despite being one win away from being called champions, will be without two of their five starters to open the season. The Indiana Pacers saw their All-Star point guard Tyrese Hailburton go down to injury in Game 7. He is ruled out for the 2025-26' season with a tear to an Achilles tendon.

Myles Turner, their center of ten years, left in free agency. That's two key contributors to the Pacers' Finals run that will not be on Indiana's roster opening night. Thus, it may be an ideal type for Washington to call regarding the availability of another Pacers guard.

Mathurin
Apr 8, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin (00) shoots the ball while Washington Wizards guard Jordan Poole (13) defends in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images | Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Wizards and Pacers make first deal in two years with this proposal

It was in June 2023 when the Washington Wizards and the Indiana Pacers swapped draft picks. The Pacers gave the seventh overall pick to the Wizards in return for the eighth overall pick in addition to a pair of future second-round picks.

For this trade proposal, the Wizards trade their 2026 first-pick and rookie Will Riley for Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin. To further sweeten the pot, the Wizards would also receive Jarace Walker and the Pacers get Corey Kispert.

Washington Wizards forward, Corey Kispert
Mar 8, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Washington Wizards forward Corey Kispert (24) drives to the basket as Toronto Raptors guard A.J. Lawson (0) tries to defend during the second quarter at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images | Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

What the Wizards get in Mathurin is a youthful, athletic guard with playoff experience. The 23-year-old averaged 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists last season for Indiana.

He even posted a massive double-double in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. With 24 points and 13 rebounds, Mathurin made the eventual NBA champions work for their victory. The second-year player went a perfect 10-for-10 at the free-throw line, too.

Mathurin is under contract through the next two seasons. McCollum and Middleton are free agents after this year. That gives the Wizards a full season, tentatively, to see if this trio works out on the court.

Will Riley, Washington Wizards rookie, 2025 NBA Draf
Jun 25, 2025; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Will Riley stands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the 21st pick by the Utah Jazz in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The Wizards can gamble with parting ways with Riley early. He and Kispert are expendable, especially if the return is Mathurin. The Pacers' backup forward, Wallace, helps with some outside shooting woes, rebounding, and defensive deficiencies that Washington still may have.

This trade gives the Pacers some draft capital and the Wizards upgrade the roster during Dawkins' tenure as the GM, again. Washington and Indiana will face each other for the first time this season on Friday, November 28. Then, the two teams do battle in back-to-back games in D.C. mid-February.

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Scott Conrad
SCOTT CONRAD

My name is Scott Conrad and I am a Contributor for the Chicago Sky with Sports Illustrated.com. I am also a Contributor with FanSided on NinerNoise, as well as Da Windy City. In addition, I am the Site Editor/Expert for The View from Avalon. I spent two seasons (2015 & 2016) with the Tampa Bay Times as a Correspondent covering high school football. I am a two-time published author with more work to come. In my teenage years, I started watching both MLS and WNBA start in 1996 and grow to be the juggernauts they are in their respective sports. Much love to the career on and off the court for fellow-Napervillian and former Sky forward Candace Parker. Outside of the sports journalism world, I am a travel volleyball coach. I accepted the Head Coach position with Greater Cincinnati Volleyball Club for their U13-2 team. In terms of active sports, I play volleyball, soccer, softball, kickball and train in mixed martial arts.

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