Bennedict Mathurin is heading back to the West Coast - and this time, he’s doing it with a lot more NBA experience under his belt.
The former Arizona Wildcats standout was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday in a deal that sent big man Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers. The Clippers didn’t stop there - they also landed Isaiah Jackson, two first-round picks, and a second-rounder as part of the package. It’s a bold move for a team looking to retool on the fly in a crowded Western Conference.
Mathurin, now in his fourth NBA season, is in the middle of his best year yet. He’s averaging 17.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game - all career highs - and has grown into a more complete offensive weapon. His ability to score at all three levels, paired with improved rebounding and playmaking, makes him an intriguing addition to a Clippers squad that’s clearly reshaping its identity.
This move comes on the heels of another major shakeup in L.A., where the Clippers recently traded James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Darius Garland. The franchise is clearly pivoting - moving on from the aging star era and betting on younger, more versatile talent to carry them forward. Sitting in ninth place in the West, the Clippers are still very much in the playoff hunt, and Mathurin could provide the scoring punch and energy they’ve been missing.
For Indiana, this trade signals a significant shift. Just one season removed from a surprising run to the NBA Finals, the Pacers have fallen hard in the standings.
Shipping out Mathurin and Jackson - two young pieces - for Zubac suggests a desire to stabilize the frontcourt with a more traditional center. Zubac brings size, rim protection, and interior presence, but it’s clear Indiana is recalibrating after a disappointing follow-up to their Finals run.
Mathurin, meanwhile, enters the final year of his rookie contract without an extension in place. That adds a layer of urgency - both for him and the Clippers.
If he clicks in L.A., this could be the start of a longer-term relationship. If not, the Clippers have some flexibility moving forward.
Elsewhere, another former Arizona Wildcat was on the move - and in rapid fashion. Dalen Terry was traded twice in less than 12 hours on Thursday.
First, the Chicago Bulls sent him to the New York Knicks. Then, the Knicks flipped him to the New Orleans Pelicans in a deal that included Jose Alvarado and two second-round picks heading to New York.
Terry, like Mathurin, is also in the final year of his rookie deal. And while his minutes were limited in Chicago, the move to New Orleans could open the door for a bigger role. The Pelicans have been looking to bolster their bench depth, and Terry’s versatility on the wing could give him a chance to prove he belongs in a regular rotation.
For both Mathurin and Terry, these trades represent fresh starts - and in the NBA, sometimes that’s all a young player needs.