The Indiana Pacers and Utah Jazz are two franchises currently building toward long-term success, but with different priorities. A new trade idea circulating among NBA circles envisions a deal that could solve big questions for both sides:
Indiana Pacers Receive: Walker Kessler (via sign-and-trade), Brice Sensabaugh, 2027 Utah Jazz second-round pick
Utah Jazz Receive: Bennedict Mathurin (via sign-and-trade)
The deal would hinge on sign-and-trade agreements for both core players. Kessler, in the final year of his rookie contract, would reportedly sign a four-year deal worth around $90–92 million, while Mathurin would be extended for four years in the $110–115 million range.
The Pacers Get Their Center Of The Future
Indiana’s making it to the 2025 NBA Finals raised their status as a serious contender in the Eastern Conference while at the same time officially igniting the need for a long-term anchor in the paint.
Myles Turner’s exit left them thin at the center position, and although Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam can generate plenty of offense on their own, the Pacers are likely seeking a defensively dominant centerpiece that can change the game at the rim.
This is where Walker Kessler fits in. Just 24 years old, Kessler averaged 11.1 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks a game last season while shooting an absurd 66.3 percent from the field.
He has already become one of the best shot blockers and rebounders in the league and can be a defensive anchor while playing a low-maintenance offensive role.
His ability to catch lobs, rim-run in transition, and provide vertical spacing would give Haliburton one more weapon.
The addition of Brice Sensabaugh is just a bonus. Sensabaugh put together a solid rookie season, averaging 10.9 points and shooting 42.2 percent from three, establishing himself as a viable catch-and-shoot threat.
Sensabaugh just turned 21 can still be used to help grow into reliable scoring off the bench. With Mathurin gone, Indiana would need extra depth on the wing and Sensabaugh would be a good fit, taking Mathurin’s spot in the rotation.
The deal is about balance for the Pacers. They lose Mathurin’s scoring potential, but get a franchise defender at the center position, while adding another reasonably young bonus scorer. Plus the second round pick coudln’t hurt.
The Jazz Get A Rising Star With Untapped Potential
For Utah, this move is about rolling the dice on a young player with star potential. Bennedict Mathurin has already shown flashes of being a big-time scorer. Last season, he averaged 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists while shooting 45.8 percent from the field.
In the Pacers’ Finals run, he displayed the kind of shot-creation and fearlessness that teams covet in a lead scorer.
Mathurin’s rookie-scale extension negotiations with Indiana are still unresolved. He is reportedly seeking $20–30 million annually, a figure the Pacers may be reluctant to commit to given their current roster structure. For Utah, however, this is exactly the type of gamble that fits their timeline.
With Lauri Markkanen established as an All-Star scorer and, Ace Bailey, who should be raring to go, Mathurin could be acquired as a pure wing who is a high usage player that speeds up Utah’s rebuild.
There’s also a stylistic fit. Mathurin thrives as a slasher and downhill driver, drawing fouls and putting pressure on defenses. Playing alongside Markkanen, Bailey, and a pass-first guard, he could reach that elusive 20 points per game mark while also being challenged to grow as a passer and defender.
This Deal Works For Both Sides
The Pacers find their long-term defensive anchor in Kessler, adding a player who complements their current offensive stars while reinforcing their biggest weakness. They also bring in Sensabaugh as a floor-spacing wing who can ease the loss of Mathurin.
The Jazz, meanwhile, cash in on Kessler’s value to secure a potential franchise cornerstone in Mathurin. At just 23, he has the time and talent to grow into a top option, and if it all clicks, Utah could be looking at a young trio of Mathurin, Markkanen, and Bailey as their foundation.
For Indiana, it’s about solving a structural need. For Utah, it’s about chasing star upside. And in a league where timelines rarely align, this trade just might work for both.
