The New Orleans Pelicans front office hasn't been praised much, but their latest move is winning people over.
When this New Orleans Pelicans front office wants to pull something off, they usually don't rest until it's done. They finally brought in long-time obsession Bennedict Mathurin, and it's a move that is worth celebrating.
Given that they hadn't added anyone until Mathurin, their offseason had widely been panned by journalists. The tune is beginning to change, though. The Pelicans added some much-needed offense, even if he isn't exactly the best fit. This two-year, $16 million deal is about as good as New Orleans could hope to pull off late into this offseason.
Bennedict Mathurin Signing Grade: B
One of the best wins of this deal for the Pelicans was being able to avoid needing a sign-and-trade to pull it off. The Los Angeles Clippers had Mathurin's rights and could have forced New Orleans' hand. They wouldn't have been able to take much away, but even two second-round picks are draft assets that could be used to make the team better in other ways.
Los Angeles had been working closely with the wing's representation to get a deal done. Ultimately, they just accepted a clean exit. This just turns it into a low-risk deal for the Pelicans.
Now, New Orleans gets to bring in a former sixth overall pick who is coming off a season where he put up over 17 points per game for about $8 million. Even if the fit is a bit off, they can't complain about the value they were able to find for a player they clearly treasure.
On the court, Mathurin is mostly an offensive asset. He uses his athleticism to get to the rim with ease, and he draws a lot of fouls. While he isn't a consistent three-point shooter, he can shoot free throws and uses that to his advantage.
The Pelicans could have used someone who is a bit more proven as a shooter, but anyone who watched the team over the past few years knows that they just need more players who can score. There have been stretches at a time over the last two seasons where it felt like no one knew what to do. Mathurin gives them another option who can create his own shot.
If Mathurin and Jeremiah Fears mesh well this season, then New Orleans could have potentially found their frontcourt of the future. This could be just a one-year flier; the Pelicans could certainly turn this into a longer-term deal once some money opens up next offseason. This just became one of the season's most important storylines.
