Who could take a big leap for the Clippers?
Bennedict Mathurin spent three seasons in Indiana waiting for his moment, and it never quite came.
The former sixth overall pick bounced between starting and bench roles with the Pacers, flashing scoring ability but never locking into a consistent role.
Then the Los Angeles Clippers traded Ivica Zubac for him at the deadline, and something changed.
In 26 games with his new team, Mathurin averaged 17.4 points per game on a roster still figuring itself out, and with a full offseason ahead he has a real shot to take the next step.
A Roster Full of Candidates
The Clippers finished 42-40 and were knocked out in the play-in tournament after a deadline overhaul that sent both James Harden and Zubac to new teams.
That much turnover creates opportunity, and there is no shortage of players in Los Angeles who could take advantage next season.
Darius Garland is the most obvious bounce-back name.
He came over from Cleveland in the Harden deal and put up 19.9 points and 6.4 assists across just 19 games, and if he stays healthy he could be the guard who runs this offense for years.
Jordan Miller quietly shot 53.1 percent from the field and averaged 10.0 points across 60 games as a 25-year-old wing with room to grow.
Kobe Sanders, the rookie who played 68 games and shot 40.8 percent from three, could be in line for a sophomore leap too.
All of those names are worth watching closely. But the player most likely to surprise people is Mathurin.
Why Mathurin Is the Answer
The 23-year-old has the talent and the situation working in his favor.
Lue trusted him enough to close games alongside Leonard down the stretch, and that trust was not given freely.
Mathurin is a restricted free agent this summer, which means the Clippers can match any offer and keep him around as a long-term piece going forward.
What separates him from the other candidates is his upside.
Garland is already an established player, so a strong year from him would feel more like a return to form than a breakout.
Miller and Sanders are role players who could grow, but neither has the draft pedigree or scoring punch that Mathurin brings to the table.
The Clippers also hold the fifth overall pick in the upcoming draft, and Mathurin fits right in the middle of that youth movement.
If Leonard gets traded this summer, and that is a real possibility with him entering the final year of his deal, the scoring load shifts in a big way.
A 20-plus points per game season would not be out of the question for Mathurin at all.
Even if Leonard stays, there is enough space in this offense for Mathurin to settle in as a reliable second or third scoring option on a team that desperately needs one.
He is not going to become an All-Star overnight.
But with the Clippers clearly building toward their next chapter, Mathurin is the player with the most room to grow and the fewest things standing in his way.
