Meet the 3-point shooter the Pacers desperately need: Garrison Mathews

CLEVELAND -- Garrison Mathews wasn't drafted out of Lipscomb in 2019, but in his six years as a pro he had never ended training camp without a home until this year.

The last time the 6-5 sharpshooter was waived was October of 2021 when the Celtics cut him loose, but the Rockets signed him two days later to a two-way deal, then converted that to a four-year standard contract two months later and he didn't have to worry about signing again until this past summer.

The Knicks signed him to a free agent deal in the offseason and he had a solid training camp, making 41.2% of his 3s, but they elected to waived him on Oct. 18. So for more than a month, Mathews has been waiting to see where his next stop would be.

"It's tough," Mathews said. "I've been in the league, this will be my seventh year. It was a tough free agency. Just sitting around watching teams play while you're sitting at home, it ain't easy."

That's why Mathews is particularly pleased to be getting a chance with the Pacers, who signed him to a 10-day hardship exception contract on Thursday. He will be available for the first time in Cleveland on Friday night against the Cavaliers.

Mathews has had a lot of success against the Pacers in his first six seasons. In nine games, against them, he's hit 16 of 31 3-point attempts (51.6%) which is his highest percentage against any opponent. However, any time he's played against them, he's marveled at their style of play.

"I've always loved this team," Mathews said. "They play fast. They play really fast. They got really good guards. Everybody can score on this team. I think I fit well spacing the floor for guys like P (Pascal Siakam) and Benn (Bennedict Mathurin) and (Andrew Nembhard) and Ty (Tyrese Haliburton) obviously. Just being able to space the floor and run and knock down open shots, I feel like I can really help this team."

The Pacers indeed signed him because he can shoot the ball. More than 84% of his career attempts have come from beyond the 3-point arc. He's made 467 of 1,221 career attempts (38.2%). He knocked down 39% of his attempts last season with the Hawks and a career-high 44% in 2023-24.

Indiana could very much use his help as injuries have decimated their roster and their 3-point shooting in particular. The combination of the loss of center Myles Turner to free agency and injuries to Haliburton and forwards Obi Toppin and Aaron Nesmith have taken away four of their top six 3-point shooters from last season. They currently rank last in the NBA in field goal percentage and 3-point field goal percentage.

"He's a spacer and guy that can change the geometry of the game with his long-range shooting," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "I've always liked him as a competitor from afar. He was a guy you always had to account for in a scouting report."

Carlisle said the fact that Mathews went through a whole training camp was helpful even though he was cut. He's the third player the Pacers have signed to a 10-day hardship contract since the season started and they've also signed two players to non-guaranteed standard contracts since the season opener. Mathews is the first who had the NBA training camp experience this season.

"That's one of the things that you look at," Carlisle said. "Jumping in 15 games in in a busy schedule, if you're not in condition, a lot of undesirable things can happen."

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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Garrison Mathews signs with Pacers for needed 3-point shooting