Overview
- Reports show the New Orleans Pelicans, Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks and Dallas Mavericks have all checked in on restricted free agent Bennedict Mathurin through possible sign‑and‑trade deals.
- The Clippers have made re‑signing Mathurin a priority but are effectively paused on major moves because a league review of Kawhi Leonard’s trade has limited their ability to complete transactions.
- Each suitor faces distinct hurdles: the Pelicans hold a roughly $15 million non‑taxpayer mid‑level exception and some tax room, the Bulls likely need a sign‑and‑trade and have offered tradeable pieces in hypotheticals, the Bucks own a large traded‑player exception but must trim their roster, and the Mavericks would likely need to move or buy out Klay Thompson to create the fit.
- Mathurin is 24 and coming off a career‑best season near 17.6 points per game, and the Clippers issued a qualifying offer that gives Los Angeles the right to match any offer sheet.
- With the Clippers in a holding pattern, teams are steering toward creative workarounds and the Clippers can demand a premium if they choose to match or trade Mathurin, so the next moves to watch are any sign‑and‑trade offers or roster clears that create matching salary space.