Bennedict Mathurin, Pelicans Agree To Two-Year Deal

Mathurin had been a restricted free agent, but according to Charania, his representatives approached the Clippers about withdrawing his $8.8MM qualifying offer, making him unrestricted and freeing him up to sign directly with New Orleans without having to complete an offer sheet or a sign-and-trade deal.

July 13 was the deadline for a team to unilaterally rescind a restricted free agent’s qualifying offer, but the club can still take that route with the player’s consent throughout the offseason.

Mathurin, who reportedly drew interest from the Bulls, Bucks, and Mavericks earlier this summer, had received longer-term offers that featured more overall money, Charania reports, but preferred a shorter-term deal that will allow him to reach unrestricted free agency as early as next offseason.

Charania adds (via Twitter) that the Pelicans had been pursuing Mathurin for over a year and don’t view him as a one-year rental. The hope in New Orleans is that the 24-year-old will be a significant part of the team’s young core moving forward.

Acquired by the Clippers from Indiana as part of the Ivica Zubac trade in February, Mathurin averaged 17.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 28.0 minutes per game over the course of 26 outings (one start) for his new team.

Those numbers weren’t much different from the ones the 6’5″ swingman posted in 28 games for the Pacers to open the season (17.8 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 2.3 APG), though his three-point shooting fell off significantly in L.A., from 37.2% on 5.6 attempts per game to 20.7% on 3.2 tries per contest. He was a career 34.2% three-point shooter entering last season.

While Charania suggests that the Pelicans will remain below the luxury tax line after signing Mathurin, that doesn’t appear to be the case based on the reported terms. New Orleans entered the day with about $5.77MM in breathing room below the tax threshold, while the former sixth overall pick’s first-year salary would have to be in the $7.8MM range on a two-year, $16MM contract.

Jordan Hawkins, who is on a $7MM expiring contract, has frequently been cited as a trade candidate. A deal in which the Pelicans send out Hawkins without taking back any salary would give the club plenty of space below both the tax line and the first tax apron. Theoretically, the team could also duck below the tax line by waiving forward Trendon Watford, whose minimum-salary deal only includes $250K in guaranteed money, but Watford was just signed nine days ago, so it would be a little surprising if the front office cut him so quickly.

Adding Mathurin, who will be signed using a portion of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, will give New Orleans 16 players on standard contracts, so whether it’s Hawkins, Watford, or someone else, the acquisition will result in one current Pelican becoming the odd man out.

Mathurin had been one of just two restricted free agents left on the market. Once he, the Pelicans, and the Clippers finalize their arrangement to get him to New Orleans, Pistons center Jalen Duren will be the only RFA still on the board.