The New Orleans Pelicans have agreed to a two-year, $16 million deal with Bennedict Mathurin.
The New Orleans Pelicans went hard after one player in particular this offseason, and they may have just pulled off the signing. Per ESPN's Shams Charania, the Pelicans and ex-Los Angeles Clippers guard Bennedict Mathurin have agreed to a two-year, $16 million deal, with a player option in the second season.
Over the past 24 hours or so, the market for Mathurin had once again picked up. There were once again rumors and reports of New Orleans being the only team interested in plucking him away from the Clippers.
While Mathurin could have signed a longer deal elsewhere, per Charania's report, taking the short-term deal with the Pelicans gives him the security of opting into a second season in New Orleans or capitalizing on a potential breakout to sign a bigger deal.
New Orleans has long wanted to get the former Clipper guard to be part of their rotation. Their offense was more than lacking last year. Now, with Mathurin coming off the bench, they will need him to provide more production than they got from players like Jordan Poole and Jordan Hawkins last season.
Mathurin posted 17.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists per night on 43.0/31.5/86.9 shooting splits last year. He actually shot the three-ball well to begin the season, 37.2% on 5.6 attempts per game, but that dropped drastically after going to Los Angeles.
After adding Mathurin, their roster is now over the edge by one player, so they will have to move someone. This could be them waiving Trendon Watford, as his contract was not fully guaranteed, or finally being able to trade one of the guards they have been trying to flip. Either way, the offseason isn't done just yet.
