Bennedict Mathurin makes a surprising decision after Clippers offer

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Bennedict Mathurin makes a surprising decision after Clippers offer

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Matt Wadleigh | Last updated Aug 26, 2026 11:49 AM ET

The Los Angeles Clippers gave Bennedict Mathurin an $8.8 million qualifying offer this summer, but now it turns out he is set to go to the New Orleans Pelicans.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Pelicans and Mathurin have agreed on a two-year, $16 million deal. Mathurin has approached the Clippers about withdrawing the qualifying offer, which would open up the way for him to go to New Orleans without LA being able to match the offer sheet.

Bennedict Mathurin has agreed to a two-year, $16 million deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, including a player option, sources tell ESPN.

Mathurin’s reps approached the Clippers about withdrawing his $8.8M qualifying offer, effectively turning the QO into a more favorable… pic.twitter.com/U53SEBOm3m
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 26, 2026

Due to the Clippers already extending the QO, there are some things to figure out.

NBA insider Jake Fischer says that the Clippers have not withdrawn the offer yet, but LA does plan on figuring things out to get Mathurin to New Orleans.

Being told the Clippers haven’t yet withdrawn their qualifying offer to Bennedict Mathurin, but Los Angeles will indeed work with Mathurin and New Orleans to get him to the Pelicans. This deal still has some pieces to sift through.
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) August 26, 2026

Fischer reported on Tuesday that Mathurin’s frontrunners were the Clippers and Pelicans, and New Orleans has been trying to bring in Mathurin for over a year.

The Indiana Pacers selected Mathurin with the No. 6 overall pick in 2022 after he played college basketball with the Arizona Wildcats. He spent his first four seasons with Indiana before coming to LA at the 2026 trade deadline in the Ivica Zubac blockbuster deal.

So, barring a surprising change of events, Bennedict Mathurin will be joining the Pelicans once everything is ironed out.

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