According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin (shoulder) will undergo surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. He is done for the remainder of the 2023-24 campaign. Fortunately, the 21-year-old is expected to recover fully and be ready for the start of next season. Although Mathurin's numbers are down from his inaugural year, averaging 14.5 points and 4.0 rebounds, he's still been a relatively reliable fantasy asset. He's shown growth in areas, especially from behind the arc, considering he shot a career-high 37.4%. At any rate, Mathurin could be in store for an even bigger season in 2024-25, assuming he doesn't suffer any setbacks in the recovery process.

Indiana Pacers guard/forward Bennedict Mathurin (shoulder) will miss at least a week of action. He was already ruled out for Thursday's clash with Minnesota, and the team plans to re-evaluate him following a short two-game road trip, which starts at the weekend with a game against Orlando. "We hope it's not serious," Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said of Mathurin's injury on Thursday. "He's a guy who bounces back very quickly and hates missing game. We hope that it's relatively short term, but he will miss a week at least." Aaron Nesmith and Ben Sheppard are looking at a boost in playing time without Mathurin, particularly with Doug McDermott (calf) also unavailable.

Indiana Pacers guard/forward Bennedict Mathurin (shoulder) won't take the court Thursday against the Timberwolves. He has been ruled out with a right shoulder sprain. Mathurin has previously been dealing with a foot issue, so the 21-year-old appears to be quite a bit bang up entering the final stretch of the season. Ben Sheppard is poised to get a boost without Mathurin, although Thursday's matchup is a rough one against a team that leads the pack in the league with a 108.0 defensive rating.

Indiana Pacers guard/forward Bennedict Mathurin (illness) is questionable to suit up against the Warriors on Thursday. A stomach bug kept him out from Tuesday's clash with the Rockets, and he could now miss a second consecutive game. The trio of Andrew Nembhard, Buddy Hield, and Ben Sheppard will have a chance to play more without Mathurin. Hield had the best game out of the three on Tuesday with 12 points and six assists in 24 minutes off the bench.

Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin (illness) has been ruled out ahead of Tuesday's game against the Houston Rockets. It appears Mathurin is dealing with a stomach illness, so the team will hold him out of this contest. The good news is that this probably won't be a multi-game absence for him. In the meantime, Ben Sheppard figures to see more minutes in the rotation. Also, Buddy Hield and Aaron Nesmith should have larger roles on Tuesday.

Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin (toe) will suit up for Friday's game against the Sacramento Kings. Mathurin will return to the lineup after missing Friday's game due to a toe sprain. Ben Sheppard played 22 minutes off the bench, but is expected to have a reduced role with Mathurin back in the picture. Sheppard isn't consistent enough to trust in fantasy formats right now. Fantasy managers can get Mathurin back in their lineups ahead of Friday's slate.

Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle says guard Bennedict Mathurin (toe) is still out for Thursday's meeting with the New York Knicks. This will mark Mathurin's second straight absence due to a sprained right toe, and he'll have a quick turnaround if he wants to return for Indy's next game, which arrives back home on Friday versus the visiting Sacramento Kings. The 22-year-old offensive-minded wing has been a far superior fantasy asset in points leagues, recording 14.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.3 treys per game on 36.4% shooting from beyond the arc in his second season. With T.J. McConnell (illness) back in the fold on Thursday, Andrew Nembhard can play more of a two-guard role from the Pacers' second unit. Keep an eye on rookie Ben Sheppard's minutes in very deep leagues while Mathurin remains unavailable.

Indiana Pacers guard/forward Bennedict Mathurin (toe) is considered questionable for Thursday's matchup against the Knicks. A toe sprain kept him out from Tuesday's clash with Boston, and Mathurin might have to sit again with the same issue. Buddy Hield and Aaron Nesmith played huge minutes without Mathurin on Tuesday, while Andrew Nembhard went close to 30 minutes off the bench. The trio should soak in most of Mathurin's minutes again if he can't return on Thursday.

Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin (toe) is listed as questionable ahead of Tuesday's game against the Boston Celtics. Mathurin is coming off a good performance on Sunday but carries a toe injury into this contest. The Pacers are extremely banged up with a handful of players on the injury report. The absence of Mathurin would likely mean more run for Buddy Hield during Tuesday's game. Fantasy managers will have to check back on Tuesday for another update on his status.

Indiana Pacers guard/forward Bennedict Mathurin (ankle) will play on Friday versus Portland. The 21-year-old carried a questionable tag on Friday, just like he did ahead of Thursday's win over the Sacramento Kings. But he's good to go, although the return of Tyrese Haliburton (hamstring) and the debut of Pascal Siakam could significantly impact his production in all statistical areas. However, there's still no reason to keep him out of any fantasy lineup.

Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin received his second straight start on Thursday night against the Sacramento Kings. The Pacers were shorthanded with Tyrese Haliburton (hamstring) sidelined and Bruce Brown being traded to the Toronto Raptors. Mathurin made the most of it by hitting 11-of-21 shots from the floor for 25 points in the win. He also added three rebounds, four assists, and two blocks in his 37 minutes of play. Haliburton is expected to return on Friday, so Mathurin will likely shift back to a role on the bench. He should continue to be a consistent option off the bench, but won't be seeing 37 minutes every night.

Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin (ankle) is available ahead of Thursday's game against the Sacramento Kings. Mathurin is back after missing Monday's contest due to a left ankle sprain. He's expected to have an increased role with Aaron Nesmith (shin) sidelined and Bruce Brown being traded to the Toronto Raptors. It's uncertain whether Mathurin or Buddy Hield will move into the starting five on Thursday. Regardless, both players should have increased value with the Pacers shorthanded right now.

Indiana Pacers guard/forward Bennedict Mathurin (ankle) is considered questionable for Thursday's clash with the Kings. He sprained his left ankle against Utah on Monday and could be forced to miss his first game of the campaign. However, Mathurin was present in Wednesday's practice, so it looks like there's a good chance he won't have to sit out Thursday's game. Mathurin might find himself in a big role Thursday as well, following Indiana's big trade to acquire Pascal Siakam. Bruce Brown, who's headed to Toronto as part of the deal, has been a big piece in the rotation, and his minutes will need to be covered. Siakam is expected to join the team on Friday.

Indiana Pacers guard/forward Bennedict Mathurin sprained his left ankle against Utah on Monday and didn't finish the game. It was an awful ending to Mathurin's first start since Nov. 19. He had 11 points in the contest with 5-for-10 shooting. Mathurin has averaged the fifth-most minutes among Pacers players this season and is sitting third in scoring, so his absence will definitely be felt if the 21-year-old can't play in Thursday's matchup against the Kings.

Indiana Pacers guard/forward Bennedict Mathurin (elbow), who didn't practice on Tuesday, is questionable for Wednesday's game against the Boston Celtics. Mathurin is getting a right elbow injury examined by doctors after sustaining the setback during the first half of Monday's 112-105 loss to the Chicago Bulls. The fact that the 21-year-old three-level scorer is being checked on by doctors can't help but cast some doubt on his ability to play in Wednesday's contest, but we'll see if he is spotted at morning shootaround ahead of time. Swingmen Aaron Nesmith, who averaged 17.0 points and 3.0 three-pointers in four games sans Mathurin last season, and Buddy Hield would figure to be the primary fantasy beneficiaries if Mathurin cannot be cleared for this one.

It's funny that every year at the NBA Draft, once the end of the guaranteed money and live appearances arrives at the end of the first round, everybody tunes out and refers to the 60th pick as "Mr. Irrelevant." That's not very accurate though, is it?Speaking historically, the title of "Mr. Irrelevant" could just as easily be applied to each pick in the draft, as organizations differ greatly in their evaluation of talent and their own needs, particularly in a year without the NCAA tournament. The nickname just doesn't reflect how basketball works anymore. Executives strategically stockpile second-round draft picks for the less burdensome financial obligations, and organizations in rebuilding mode get super creative to field a respectable team on a budget.Particularly in the NBA where worldwide talent is plentiful and positional lines continue to fade, the opportunity is everything: in the right situation, the right under-the-radar player can make an immediate, poignant statement. With professional development leagues for 16-18-year-olds, an ever-expanding set of domestic/international opportunities due to the sheer growth of basketball, and widespread NIL rights for college athletes, players of all levels and localities are starting to get their due exposure and now have enough freedom to hone their skills in a place, and at a pace, that fits best with their path to the NBA. 

Introduction

I am inherently skeptical and distrusting of scouting from the high school level to pre-Draft. That's why in this annual article, I tend to favor overlooked college players (love the mid-majors/non-power conferences) with either well-rounded, polished games or specific statistical specialties.We are going to discuss a handful of 2023 second-round picks and undrafted free agent signees who, given their individual skillsets and circumstances, warrant the attention of Fantasy Basketball Managers as potential high-impact rookies for the 2023-24 campaign who can quietly be acquired on clearance once they start showing signs of emergence.As I will frequently emphasize and reiterate: in 2023, there is very little difference between the vast majority of second-round draft picks and undrafted free agents--it always all comes down to the skillsets they possess, their capacity for growth, and the situations they've landed in.Seasons will be made and broken with early identification of the diamond-in-the-rough rookies. I used to list out the many examples from the past season in this introduction portion, but we are now in a beautiful era where there are just too many to count. There is also very little separating the featured players below and those dubbed "Honorable Mentions"--so put in the work and keep an eye out throughout the regular season for who is receiving and seizing their opportunities. 

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It's a crazy time of year around the National Basketball Association. Not long after the Denver Nuggets captured the franchise's first championship, French big manVictor Wembanyama was the top pick of the 2023 Draft.While new talent entering the league is all well and good, nothing turns the NBA upside down quite like the beginning of free agency. Since June 30, many notable players have signed with new teams. There were also more than a few significant trades. In either case, at least a handful of clubs will look very different (for the better?) come training camp. Let's take a look at some of the biggest names on the move and how they might affect the NBA landscape this season. 

Fred VanVleet - Houston Rockets

The Rockets entered the 2022-23 campaign as the second-youngest team in the National Basketball Association, and it showed. The club finished with 22 wins and 60 losses, with the Pistons being the only team with a worse record. As a result, the front office made a point to shake things up after the exhaustingly long year came to a close.The overhaul began when Stephen Silas, winning just 59 of his 236 games in Houston, was relieved of his head coaching duties. In his place, Ime Udoka, who helped guide the Celtics to an NBA Finals appearance in his first season, took the reigns. While Udoka's tenure in Boston didn't end on a positive note, he's still regarded as one of the sharpest minds in the league, even by those who lost respect for him on a personal level.https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1650612243661242369?s=20While having a knowledgeable head coach will help accelerate the growth of an up-and-coming squad, the Rockets needed someone to facilitate things on the floor. With Houston having plenty of cap space entering the offseason, the team signed ... [More]

Indiana Pacers guard/forward Bennedict Mathurin opened his 2023 Summer League campaign with a 27-point effort in a 91-83 win over the Wizards. The 21-year-old topped all scorers in the game, although Mathurin's work was a bit inefficient as he shot 9-for-21 from the field and was 3-for-10 with his three-pointers. He also had five rebounds and one block in the game with four turnovers in 34 minutes. After mostly coming off the bench during his rookie campaign, Mathurin can enjoy having a starter's job in the summer, and he'll be expected to lead the Pacers team in Las Vegas.

Indiana Pacers guard/forward Bennedict Mathurin notched a game-high 26 points in Monday's blowout loss to Dallas. After settling for only six points in the two previous games combined, Mathurin produced a 9-for-19 shooting night and matched the fourth-highest scoring output of his rookie campaign. A large chunk of his misses came from deep, with Mathurin finishing just 2-for-8 with the three-ball. In 38 minutes as a starter, the former Arizona Wildcat was also able to collect four rebounds and three assists with one steal and one block. The Pacers had a bunch of players out Monday and appear to have pulled the plug on the season, so youngsters like Mathurin should get plenty of burn for the rest of the way.

Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin (ankle) has missed the last four games with an ankle injury and is now listed as questionable for Monday's contest against the Charlotte Hornets. As long as he can play, he'd get some extra minutes since Tyrese Haliburton (knee) is out for a few games. If he has to miss a fifth game, however, T.J. McConnell and Andrew Nembhard would be strong streaming options for any team that needs a quick guard rental.