Joe Dumars got the deal done after days of rumors that Bennedict Mathurin was signing with the New Orleans Pelicans; they finally got their guy. Wednesday morning, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Mathurin agreed to a two-year, $16 million deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, including a player option. Mathurin entered free agency as a restricted free agent but struggled to find a real market, which allowed the Pelicans to swoop in and sign him for around $8 million annually.
*Reminder: this was a long pursuit from Dumars and Troy Weaver, as Mathurin was first linked to New Orleans ahead of the 2026 trade deadline.
Charania added, “Mathurin’s reps approached the Clippers about withdrawing his $8.8M qualifying offer, effectively turning the QO into a more favorable situation in New Orleans with added security. Mathurin prioritized flexibility and the earliest path to unrestricted free agency next summer versus longer-term offers with larger total commitments but greater team control.”
Shortly after the news broke, NBA insider Jake Fischer reported that the Clippers haven’t yet withdrawn their qualifying offer to Mathurin. But they will work with Mathurin and New Orleans to get him to the Pelicans. That means there are still some moving parts before the deal becomes official, which makes sense now that New Orleans has a 16-man roster.
What all of this means
Let’s start with what the Pelicans are getting in Mathurin. The former No. 6 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft has built a reputation around the league as a high-level scorer who can create his own shot and get to the rim well. His outside shot has been wishy-washy, with him carrying a career 33.6 three-point percentage. Mathurin has been inconsistent from beyond the arc throughout his career, shooting as high as 37.4 percent in 2023-24 and as low as 31.5 percent last season.
His outside jump shot is concerning, and there have been plenty of questions about how he plays off the ball and how that fits with New Orleans' second unit. However, one thing that can’t be overlooked is that the Pelicans signed a player who averaged 17.6 points per game last season to a contract paying him below $10 million annually. On top of that, it's fair to assume Mathurin enters 2026-27 with a little bit of a chip on his shoulder, with him having the option to be a free agent next summer.
In the coming days, or later today, New Orleans will likely make a move to clear a roster spot for Mathurin.
When his name was originally tied to this team, many thought he’d be getting paid way more, and the Clippers and Pelicans could explore a Herb Jones for Mathurin sign-and-trade. But with him signing for as low a figure as he did, it opens the door to a less important player making his exit from the Big Easy. When looking at the Pelicans' cap sheet, the name that sticks out like a sore thumb is Jordan Hawkins, who has struggled to find a role or rhythm over the last several seasons.
Hawkins is making just over $7 million next season, which matches up rather well with Mathurin's new deal. While this deal isn't believed to be a sign-and-trade, with ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel reporting that the Clippers will be pulling their qualifying offer, Hawkins still feels like the obvious next name out the door in any coinciding move.
There is NOT a sign-and-trade for Mathurin. He will be signing his contract with the Pelicans straight up as an UFA once his QO is officially rescinded by the Clippers.
— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) August 26, 2026
Mathurin’s contract is 2yr/$16M and has a player option for the 2027-28 season. https://t.co/nsPksU8PsB
When Mathurin was traded at the deadline as part of the deal that sent Ivica Zubac to Indiana, many in Los Angeles believed he was primed for a breakout. He didn’t, struggling through his 26 appearances. Now, that breakout could finally be on the horizon. Only instead of coming in Cali, it may arrive in the Bayou.
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