The Chicago Bulls could become a suitor for one of the free agent market's most athletic guards.
The Chicago Bulls have a blueprint they have mostly followed to a tee since the days of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen when it comes to building a team: athleticism first.
From the lightning quick instincts of former MVP point guard Derrick Rose to the high flying theatrics of Zach LaVine to the drafting of rising rookie phenom Caleb Wilson, the Bulls know how to identify, and acquire, athletic two-way stars like few other franchises.
On early Wednesday morning, NBA insider Marc Stein revealed a NBA free agent bombshell involving Chicago and an athletic former Indiana Pacers guard that could shift the balance of coach Tiago Splitter's lineup heading into the 2026-27 season.
Stein: Bulls Emerge as Bennedict Mathurin Suitor
Marc Stein is a former New York Times, Dallas Morning News and ESPN NBA insider who now chases NBA news and writes about it on his X account.
Stein shared an update on the Chicago Bulls and their potential courtship of restricted free agent Bennedict Mathurin, who played with the Los Angeles Clippers last season.
"Chicago has emerged as the other known suitor alongside New Orleans for Clipeprs restricted free agent Bennedict Mathurin, @TheSteinLine has learned," Stein wrote on X.
Mathurin played in 26 games last season, starting once and logging an average of 28 minutes per game for one of the league's most disappointing teams.
He recorded career worst shooting percentage overall (42.6%) and from three-point range (20.7%) with the Clippers, but scored 17.4 points per game on just over 12 shot attempts per game.
He suffered a right toe sprain in March that sidelined him for four games but still managed to show plenty of upside in an overmatched Clippers lineup.
He was traded from the Pacers to the Clippers in February 2026 but doesn't seem to fit the team's long-term plans making him a potential fit for a young Bulls team in need of mentors and lead-by-example young veterans.
Mathurin is Young With Plenty of Upside
Mathurin is still just 24 years old with plenty of upside as the sixth overall pick of the 2022 NBA Draft by way of the Arizona Wildcats.
Mathurin has completed his four-year, $29.9 million rookie deal.
Mathurin and the Pelicans have "had dialogue" about a potential sign-and-trade deal according to NBA insider Jake Fischer but Fischer said a framework for a potential deal wasn't worked out.
The former top ten draft pick averaged a career-high 17.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game in 54 appearances last season and is an athletic, physical, defensive-minded guard who would likely make an influential tutor for Wilson, fellow first round pick Dailyn Swain and the rest of the young Bulls.
This is a story to keep an eye on as free agency and preseason talks continue to heat up heading into October's preseason and regular season action.
