The Mavericks have surfaced as a team to watch in the Bennedict Mathurin sweepstakes, and the fit is easy to see. Dallas is in rebuild mode, Mathurin is still just 24, and a sign-and-trade could give both sides a clean way to move forward.
That possibility has gained traction because the Clippers have not shut the door on dealing him. NBA insider Marc Stein reported that Los Angeles is at least open to the idea, even if keeping Mathurin remains the preferred outcome. As Stein put it:
“The Clippers, unlike Detroit’s stance with restricted free agent big man Duren, have not ruled out participating in a sign-and-trade that lands Bennedict Mathurin elsewhere. Word is they would consider that outcome as well.”
Jake Weinbach added another layer by naming Dallas as a team to monitor, and the reaction only grew when Mathurin liked that post. That kind of detail is small, but in a market like this, it fuels the conversation fast.
One proposed framework would send Mathurin to Dallas and bring Klay Thompson plus a 2032 first-round pick swap back to Los Angeles. The deal is built around Mathurin signing a three-year contract worth roughly $54 million, or $18 million per year.
From a salary standpoint, the numbers work without much drama. Dallas would take in slightly more money than it sends out, since Thompson is on an expiring $17.4 million deal. The Mavericks’ payroll is listed at $194.7 million, so the extra $600,000 is not a major obstacle.
The Clippers would also come out in decent shape financially. After moving Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors, their payroll sits at $154.1 million, which leaves them $10.9 million under the salary cap. In this setup, they would trim salary and add more flexibility for the summer of 2027, when superstar free agents could be in play.
On the court, though, the deal means much more for Dallas than it does for Los Angeles. The Clippers would be getting an aging veteran in Thompson, whose value would come mostly from leadership and championship experience. He averaged 11.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game last season while shooting 39.3% from the field and 38.3% from three.
For the Mavericks, the appeal is obvious. They are building around Cooper Flagg, and they already added Morez Johnson Jr. and Sergio De Larrea in the draft. But the roster could still use another young wing who can defend, score, and grow alongside Flagg.
Mathurin checks a lot of those boxes. He has shown he can guard on the perimeter, attack offensively, and score at all three levels, even if his outside shot still needs work. Last season, he put up 17.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 0.8 steals per game while shooting 43.0% from the field and 31.5% from three.
There is also a timeline fit here. At 24, Mathurin lines up well with Flagg’s development, and Dallas still has veterans who can keep the team competitive in the meantime. His playoff experience adds another layer of value.
The sticking point is the price. Thompson might not be the kind of piece the Clippers want if they are leaning into a rebuild, especially with reports suggesting his contract could be bought out. Dallas could try to build a different package using Caleb Martin, Max Christie, or Naji Marshall, but the Mavericks may be reluctant to move Marshall or Christie given how important both have become.
For now, Mathurin’s contract talks remain stuck, just like several other restricted free agents around the league. There has also been speculation that he could be bundled with Derrick Jones Jr. and draft capital in a broader sign-and-trade, which keeps this situation very much alive.
In Other News...
Mavericks Already Have A Marcus Sasser Problem They Can't Ignore
The Mavericks backcourt picture has gotten thin enough that Marcus Sasser is suddenly being asked to handle a role that does not really match his background. He is a shooting guard by trade, but Dallas is expected to lean on him as the primary backup point guard next season, a sign of how much the roster has shifted and how little proven playmaking depth remains behind the starters.
With Kyrie Irving sidelined and the guard room already stretched by recent roster changes, the margin for error is small. Sassers limited experience running an offense leaves Dallas with a real decision to make, and the front office may not be done looking for another guard who can ease the burden and give the team more stability in that spot. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Offseason Just Raised One Huge Question About Cooper Flaggs Timeline
Dallas spent the offseason reshaping the edges of its roster, adding Morez Johnson Jr., Santi Aldama, Marcus Sasser and Zaccharie Risacher while moving on from Khris Middleton and Marvin Bagley III. With Masai Ujiri now steering the front office, and Mike Schmitz and Dusty May in place as general manager and head coach, the Mavericks have clearly signaled that the next phase is about building around Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg rather than chasing a quick fix.
The bigger question is how patient that plan can really be. Dallas still has trade exceptions and midlevel flexibility to work with, but it also sits at 16 standard contracts with all two-way spots filled, which leaves less room for maneuvering than a team in transition might prefer. ESPNs offseason panel slotted the Mavericks 23rd, a reminder that the roster still feels unfinished, and the veterans around Flagg are already the names to watch as the front office weighs whether to keep this group intact or keep reshaping it. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Face A Huge Klay Thompson Decision With Real Stakes
The Mavericks are still working through what Klay Thompson is worth to them as the final year of his contract puts real pressure on any deal. Dallas has been active in the market, and the broader landscape has shifted with LeBron James landing with the Philadelphia 76ers, a move that changes the way teams like the Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat can approach the rest of the summer.
For Dallas, Thompson is part of a larger roster conversation rather than a standalone decision. The front office is also open to moving veterans P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford, while Kyrie Irving remains off limits, which gives the Mavericks a clearer sense of what they will and wont entertain as they sort through the next move. [Read more 🡒]