🔎 What triggered the move
- The Pacers qualified for a hardship exception — a provision that lets teams add a player temporarily when multiple rostered players are unavailable due to injury or other long-term absences.
- For Indiana this season, injuries to key players including Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles), Obi Toppin (foot), Aaron Nesmith (knee), and Kam Jones (back) — among others — have left the roster dangerously thin, necessitating extra help.
- Because of that, the Pacers were allowed to exceed the usual 15-man roster limit without having to waive or trade anyone.
🏀 Who is Garrison Mathews
- Mathews is a 6-foot-5 wing / shooter who entered the league in 2019 after a standout college career at Lipscomb Bisons.
- Over his career — which includes stints with the Washington Wizards, Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks and now the Pacers — he has averaged roughly 6.4 points per game and shot about 38.0% from three-point range.
- Originally, he joined Indiana on a first 10-day hardship contract signed on November 20, 2025. That initial stint served as a stopgap while Indiana sorted out their injury situation.
📄 Details of the 2nd 10-Day Contract
- The second 10-day contract was officially confirmed on December 1, 2025.
- Under this deal, Mathews will earn US $165,197, while the Pacers take on a corresponding cap hit of approximately US $131,970.
- Because league rules limit a player to at most two 10-day contracts with the same team in a season, this likely represents the end of his short-term window — unless the Pacers make a roster move (waiver or trade) to retain him for longer.
🎯 Why Mathews — What He Brings
- The primary appeal is his outside shooting and spacing. Indiana has struggled from deep this season, and Mathews offers a proven track record as a “floor-spacer.”
- As someone who has played over 300 NBA games and proven his reliability in spot-up shooting roles, Mathews provides a veteran presence and familiarity with NBA-level rotations.
- For the Pacers, this type of signing helps shore up depth without long-term commitment — especially important given the injuries and uncertain return timelines of several roster players.
🧮 What This Means for Indiana — and for Mathews
- For the Pacers: The move is a pragmatic response to significant roster depletion. By bringing in a veteran shooter like Mathews on a short-term deal, they temporarily mitigate some of the damage done by injuries and maintain competitiveness while key players recover.
- For Mathews: It’s a chance to prove he still belongs in the NBA rotation. A strong showing over these 10 days (or even standout games) could lead to another opportunity — either a new deal with Indiana (if they clear space) or interest from another team.
- For fans: Expect Mathews to mainly be used as a spot-up shooter — perhaps in catch-and-shoot situations or off-ball movement schemes. His usual role isn’t as a primary ball-handler or playmaker, but rather as a specialist to boost perimeter shooting and spacing.
⚠️ What to Watch — Uncertainties & Limitations
- Limited runway: Because this is his final allowable 10-day with the Pacers this season, any long-term return depends on Indiana clearing roster space. If they don’t, Mathews may be back on the open market.
- Spotty production: In the early games with Indiana this season, his minutes and output have been modest (averaging about 9.2 minutes over five games).
- Role constraints: Mathews won’t magically fix deeper issues — if Indiana lacks ball movement, defense, or consistent shot creation, a shooter alone can’t carry the burden. He’s a role-player, not a star.
🧑💬 What This Means for You (as a Fan / Observer)
If you watch Pacers games over the next couple of weeks, Mathews could play a small but important role — expect him to be plugged in during lineups needing a shooter, especially in late-game or “space the floor” situations. It’s also a moment to pay attention: if he knocks down shots and shows reliable play, he could either earn a longer stay in Indiana or attract interest from other teams needing shooting depth.
This signing is one of those subtle but potentially impactful roster moves — not flashy, but realistic given Indiana’s current constraints.
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