Chicago Bulls Reportedly Tried to Trade for Bennedict Mathurin at Deadline

Free agency is slowing down, but the Chicago Bulls still appear to be active in attempting to improve their team. Executive vice president of basketball operations Bryson Graham has one roster spot available and the second-most cap space in the NBA to work with.

Various reports lately have tied restricted free agent wing Bennedict Mathurin to that vacancy. The 24-year-old most recently played for the Los Angeles Clippers after being traded midseason from the Indiana Pacers.

Between the Clippers and Pacers last season, Mathurin averaged a career-high 17.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 0.8 steals per game while shooting 43.0% from the floor and 31.5% from deep. Los Angeles currently has Mathurin's rights in restricted free agency with a $27.6 million cap hold, and the franchise could either sign him to an $8.8 million qualifying offer, ink a long-term contract extension or sign-and-trade Mathurin to another team.

This apparently isn't the first time that the Bulls have tried to acquire Mathurin. According to HoopsHype's Michael Scotto, Chicago attempted to trade for Mathurin at last year's trade deadline while he was a member of the Pacers. Indiana eventually shipped Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, the draft pick that became No. 5 overall selection Keaton Wagler and an unprotected 2029 first-round pick to the Clippers for center Ivica Zubac.

Meanwhile, the Bulls were involved in several other deadline deals. Chicago traded away Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, Nikola Vucevic, Kevin Huerter and Dalen Terry in exchange for draft picks and a plethora of players that included Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller, Collin Sexton, Anfernee Simons, Jaden Ivey, Nick Richards and Guerschon Yabusele. Only Dillingham and Miller remain on the Bulls' roster entering the 2026-27 season.

That front office was led by Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley, rather than Graham, but Chicago is evidently still intrigued by Mathurin's talent. However, it'll take a lot to get him. Mathurin has spent the last four years on a rookie deal that paid him $7.5 million annually, and after proving that he could be a key contributor on a team that reached the NBA Finals, he's in line for a big payday.

Chicago does have a $9.4 million Room Exception available, but because of Mathurin's success, he'll likely want a larger deal that guarantees him more long-term money. That means the Bulls would have to negotiate a sign-and-trade with Los Angeles.

If the Clippers decide not to bring Mathurin back, the Bulls are reportedly competing with the New Orleans Pelicans, Milwaukee Bucks and Dallas Mavericks for the talented 24-year-old.