The Clippers have a big decision to make.
The Los Angeles Clippers season is over, and the biggest offseason question on Lawrence Frank's desk is what to do with Bennedict Mathurin.
He turned in his best game as a Clipper on the night the lights went out at the Intuit Dome, finishing with 23 points on 7-of-11 shooting and five of six from three in the 126-121 Play-In loss to the Golden State Warriors.
The numbers tell you why the Clippers front office should not let him walk.
Golden State moved on at 38-45, while the Clippers finished 42-40 after a massive climb from 6-21.
Now comes a loud offseason with Mathurin right in the middle of it.
A Performance That Said Plenty
Mathurin did not duck the moment after the game.
When asked about his looming restricted free agency, he did not hesitate about wanting to stay.
"Of course. It already feels like home, you know what I'm saying? But I understand the business part of it. It's never really home, it's only temporary. But if it's over here, then it be over here," Mathurin said. "We have a lot of great guys on the team, a lot of talent, especially young talent, and a great coaching staff. It would be great to keep going and call it a temporary home. But if it's not the case, then I enjoyed my time over here."
What stood out was not only the 23 points, but how he got them.
He was aggressive without forcing it and moved the ball when the defense keyed in on him.
For a guy pegged as a volume scorer his whole career, this was a quieter, smarter version of the same player.
Even with a rough second half, his scoring output held up, and Wednesday felt like the clearest look yet at how he fits.
Why the Clippers Should Bring Him Back
Mathurin is a restricted free agent this summer, meaning the Clippers can match any offer another team throws at him.
They should.
Finding a 23-year-old wing who can create his own shot is not easy, and letting one walk for nothing is hard to explain to a fan base that just watched Kawhi Leonard go cold in the fourth quarter of a do-or-die game.
There is also the fit with Darius Garland locked in as the lead guard.
Mathurin works as a natural second-unit scorer who does not need the ball every trip down, and that pairing barely had time to breathe.
He was open about the slump that came with a toe injury this spring, which makes the 5-of-6 night from three even more encouraging.
The way he looked out for a teammate in March also shows that he blended in well.
What Happens Next
Ty Lue trusted Mathurin when it mattered most, giving him 30 minutes off the bench when he could have leaned on veterans.
That has to count for something when the front office sits down to talk money.
He showed up when the season was on the line, and that is not something you throw away over a tough negotiation.