Bennedict Mathurin, Pelicans reportedly agree to two-year, $16 million contract

For a couple of weeks, it had been rumored that New Orleans was the only outside team seriously in pursuit of Bennedict Mathurin, and it was going to come down to them or the LA Clippers — and the Clippers had the power because he was a restricted free agent.

Then came this report Wednesday: Mathurin and the Pelicans reached agreement on a two-year, $16 million offer, with the second year of that a player option, a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN.

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For that to happen, the Clippers and Mathurin have to agree to rescind his $8.8 million qualifying offer, which would make him an unrestricted free agent. The official deadline for a team to rescind that offer unilaterally is July 13, but it can still do it throughout the offseason if the team and player agree. That has yet to officially happen, but the sides are working toward it, reports NBA insider Jake Fischer.

Mathurin will agree because it is a great deal for him, despite reportedly discussing longer-term offers with other teams that would have been worth more money. While Mathurin believes he should make more, this contract gets him back on the free agent market as soon as next summer if he wants, but it gives him the security of a second year. He sees that as his best scenario.

While the Clippers have given lip service to wanting Mathurin back, their actions have shown he is not a priority. If (when?) the Kawhi Leonard trade to Toronto goes through, the Clippers will have 16 guaranteed contracts on the roster, plus Cam Christie’s non-guaranteed deal, and that is without Mathurin. The Clippers already have to make a trade or waive at least one guaranteed contract before the season starts. They don’t need Mathurin.

The Clippers and Pelicans couldn’t work out a sign-and-trade, in part because it requires at least a three-year contract for Mathurin. If the report that the Clippers are working with Mathurin to rescind the offer is true, then he walks out the door for nothing.

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Mathurin came to the Clippers as part of the Ivica Zubac trade and quickly showed he can put up numbers off the bench, averaging 17.4 points and 5.5 rebounds per…

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Publish date : 2026-08-26 16:09:00

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