Bennedict Mathurin is leaving Los Angeles.
A resolution has been reached between Bennedict Mathurin and the Los Angeles Clippers.
Shams Charania of ESPN reports that Mathurin has agreed to a two-year, $16 million deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, which includes a player option.
According to Shams, Mathurin’s reps approached the Clippers about withdrawing their $8.8M qualifying offer. Mathurin wanted flexibility and a path to unrestricted free agency next summer over a long-term deal for bigger money, but greater team control.
Jake Fischer of the Stein Line newsletter added that the Clippers haven’t yet withdrawn their qualifying offer, but that the team will work with Mathurin and the Pelicans to get him to New Orleans.
The Pelicans don’t have an open roster spot at the moment, which could lead to a separate trade.
What It Means For The Clippers
The Pelicans have reportedly been eyeing Mathurin since the NBA trade deadline when the Indiana Pacers dealt him to the Clippers as part of the Ivica Zubac deal.
Mathurin could’ve been the centerpiece of that deal had the Clippers not gotten lottery luck and obtained the fifth overall pick, which they used to select Keaton Wagler.
Mathurin is a proven scorer who draws fouls well, but he has room to grow in other areas of his game. His three-point shot abandoned him with the Clippers as he was shooting 37% from the deep with the Pacers, but only 20% with the Clippers.
He was battling a toe injury throughout the season.
What Was Mathurin’s Future In LA?
Had Mathurin stayed with the Clippers, it’s reasonable to think he would’ve been the starting shooting guard next to Darius Garland. In 201 minutes played together last season, they had a +8.6 net rating, showing immediate chemistry despite both joining the team at the trade deadline.
The acquisition of Max Strus did put his spot into question a bit, as did the drafting of Keaton Wagler, and those two moves together may have led the Clippers to feel more comfortable in moving on from the young guard.
The Clippers also re-signed Bradley Beal, who will play minutes at two guard, again signaling where talks with Mathurin were headed.
If the Clippers can somehow turn the loss of Mathurin into gaining a frontcourt player, the decision to let Mathurin leave becomes more reasonable.
If the Clippers end up losing him for nothing despite having his rights as a restricted free agent, that’s poor asset management.
