Bennedict Mathurin is betting on himself with the Pelicans

Bennedict Mathurin couldn't get the restricted free-agent offers he was hoping for this summer. Instead, he's going to bet on himself.

The former No. 6 pick agreed to a two-year, $16M contract with the New Orleans Pelicans Wednesday. That's below even Mathurin's qualifying offer, but gives him the chance to earn a larger payday next summer.

Los Angeles Clippers didn't value Bennedict Mathurin

Restricted free agency gives a player little leverage in determining their future, since teams have the right to match any contract offer. That chills the market, as teams are hesitant to tie up salary cap space early in free agency with an offer sheet that might be matched. Last year, Jonathan Kuminga and Quentin Grimes didn't sign until just before the season, while this year Peyton Watson didn't get a deal until late August and Jalen Duren remains unsigned.

It's worse when the team isn't invested. The Los Angeles Clippers received Mathurin when they traded Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers, but the prize of the deal was the draft picks, including one that became No. 5 pick, guard Keaton Wagler. They also traded for Darius Garland, Brandon Ingram, Max Strus and Gradey Dick and signed Bradley Beal, meaning there was little room for Mathurin in the backcourt or on the wings.

Now Mathurin has found his way to a team that actually wants him. The Pelicans were rewarded for their patience by getting a steal of a contract with Mathurin at about $8M for next year. If he outplays the deal and opts out of his 2027-28 deal, they'll have his Bird rights and be able to exceed the cap to sign him.

Bennedict Mathurin has tremendous motivation

Mathurin is coming to his third team in six months, having had both the Clippers and Pacers pass on giving him a long-term deal. That should provide quite a bit of motivation for the 24-year-old, who scored 24 and 27 points in NBA Finals games at age 22, coming one game and a Tyrese Haliburton injury short of an NBA title.

Situation matters tremendously for a player early in his career. Mathurin didn't exactly disappoint with either of his teams, but the Pacers already had their starting five and top two reserves locked up on long-term deals. The Clippers were tearing down their team, ditching James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, Norman Powell and Zubac in just over a year.

A player doesn't just have to play well to get a big contract. That player has to get to a team that has the desire and space to give him one.

That's why the Pelicans are such a good fit. They have a lot of forwards and point guards, but no true shooting guard. Mathurin should get a lot of opportunities to score and has several guards — Dejounte Murray, sophomore Jeremiah Fears — to get him the ball.

Perhaps most important, Mathurin finally has the chance to determine his own destiny. He could have received more money this season. Instead, the Pelicans' new guard is betting big on himself.