INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Pacers are set to bolster their roster by signing wing player Garrison Mathews through the hardship exception, a move that typically results in a 10-day contract.
Mathews, a 29-year-old known for his off-the-ball prowess, recently participated in both preseason and training camp with the New York Knicks. However, he was released before the regular season commenced. Although he has yet to play in an official game this season, Mathews did make an impression during the four preseason matchups, averaging 6.8 points per game.
His standout skill with the Knicks was his proficiency from beyond the arc. During the preseason, Mathews attempted 17 three-point shots, successfully sinking seven, which equates to a 41.2% shooting rate. Throughout his NBA tenure, he has maintained a 38.2% success rate from three-point range, climbing to 41.4% over the past two seasons.
Mathews’ quick release and accuracy from deep make him a valuable asset for any team. In fact, over 80% of his shot attempts each season are from long distance, contributing to an impressive 61.7% career true shooting percentage. Additionally, as a product of Lipscomb University, he is known for his careful handling of the ball, rarely committing turnovers.
While Mathews may not offer much beyond shooting and facilitating ball movement, his reliability in these areas makes him a formidable player. The Pacers hope his addition will boost their three-point shooting performance, which currently ranks at the bottom of the league.
The Pacers will utilize a hardship exception to integrate Mathews into the team without needing to waive or trade another player. This marks the fourth instance this season that the Pacers have employed a hardship exception. Previously, they used this mechanism to sign Jeremiah Robinson-Earl on two occasions and Cody Martin once.
Why are the Pacers able to add Garrison Mathews?
The Pacers will first be granted a hardship exception, which will allow them to add Mathews without waiving or trading a player. It’s the fourth time the Pacers have used a hardship exception this season – twice they used one to sign Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, and the other time Cody Martin joined the roster.
In order to be eligible for a hardship deal, a team with 15 players under contract must have at least four players who have missed three games and will continue to miss time. For the Pacers, who have been banged up this season, meeting that criteria has been a constant this month.
Atlanta Hawks guard Garrison Mathews (24) shoots a three-pointer while guard by Indiana Pacers forward Cole Swider (21) during the second half of a preseason NBA game, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
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Right now, the team is without Tyrese Haliburton for the rest of the season and Obi Toppin for multiple months. Aaron Nesmith is projected to miss a few weeks as well. Those three players, combined with absences for Kam Jones and Johnny Furphy, give the Pacers a path to a hardship exception.
In this case, it leads them to Mathews. He’ll be on the team for 10 days, and none of the players who were ruled out in connection with signing Mathews can return during that 10 day period. Indiana is also missing talented two-guy contract guard Quenton Jackson, but two-way contract players don’t count toward hardship contract eligibility.
With six players currently sidelined, and three of them being key rotation players, it’s no wonder the Pacers have struggled of late. They just ended an eight-game losing streak on Wednesday and currently sit at 2-13, one of the NBA’s worst records. Injuries have held the team back – on top of their current absences, they’ve seen Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin, Taelon Peter, T.J. McConnell, and Cody Martin miss time. Star forward Pascal Siakam rested a game, too.
Because the Pacers have been so injured, they’ve had to make several transactions to field a normal rotation. With the addition of Mathews and a transaction to sign Robinson-Earl to a standard deal coming, the blue and gold will have already made seven signings less than one month into the season. It’s been impossible to plan for and is the biggest factor in the team’s poor start.
Mathews will wear jersey number 24 with the Pacers and is available for a battle with the Cleveland Cavaliers tomorrow.
