Bennedict Mathurin is going to New Orleans. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday that Mathurin has agreed to a two year, $16 million deal with the Pelicans that includes a player option.
Here is the twist. The Clippers already gave Mathurin an $8.8 million qualifying offer earlier this summer. His camp went back to LA and asked them to withdraw it, which turns the whole thing into an unrestricted move so New Orleans can sign him without LA having a chance to match.
Jake Fischer added that the Clippers have not withdrawn the QO yet, but the plan is to work with Mathurin and New Orleans to get the paperwork done. This is going to happen. The pieces just need to fall in the right order.
The Pelicans have been chasing Mathurin for over a year. Fischer reported on Tuesday that New Orleans and the Clippers were the two frontrunners. Now the Pelicans get their guy, and they get him without the leverage that comes with a matched offer.
The New Orleans read is good. Mathurin is 23, he can score at all three levels, and he plays hard on both ends when he is engaged. His shot selection needs work, but $8 million a year for a wing scorer with real athleticism is a value contract in this market.
The Clippers just gave up on a player they traded for eight months ago. Mathurin came to LA at the 2026 deadline in the Ivica Zubac blockbuster. He never fit. That is the honest read. The Clippers were built around Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, and defense, and a young wing who needs the ball to be effective was never going to get real minutes.
Indiana drafted him No. 6 overall in 2022 out of Arizona. He gave the Pacers four solid seasons. LA got half a season. New Orleans now gets his prime.
The Pelicans desperately need another creator next to Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III. Mathurin gives them a bench scorer who can start when Zion is out, which is going to happen a lot.
This is a smart bet by New Orleans and a quiet white flag from the Clippers. Both teams got what they wanted.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
