Bennedict Mathurin’s restricted free agency keeps picking up steam, and the list of teams circling him is getting longer by the day.
The latest wrinkle comes from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, who reported that the Dallas Mavericks and Milwaukee Bucks have joined the New Orleans Pelicans and Chicago Bulls as teams showing sign-and-trade interest in the 24-year-old swingman. The Los Angeles Clippers, meanwhile, still want to bring Mathurin back, but they remain in a holding pattern while the league sorts through its Aspiration investigation involving Kawhi Leonard.
“While the Los Angeles Clippers remain interested in re-signing restricted free agent Bennedict Mathurin, the New Orleans Pelicans, Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, and Dallas Mavericks have expressed sign-and-trade interest in the 24-year-old swingman, league sources told HoopsHype,” Scotto reported. “With that said, there’s work to be done by each team if they’re going to add Mathurin.”
That uncertainty around Leonard has left the Clippers unable to move forward with other major roster decisions. The investigation, which was recently reported could stretch into 2027, has kept Los Angeles in limbo while the Mathurin situation continues to simmer.
New Orleans remains very much in the mix. Scotto noted the Pelicans had already tried to trade for Mathurin before last season’s deadline, back when he was still with the Indiana Pacers.
They also have some financial tools to work with, including the full $15.04 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception, and they sit $8.22 million below the luxury tax. Scotto added that the team has explored moving Jordan Hawkins, including trade talks with the Memphis Grizzlies involving AJ Johnson, to open up more flexibility.
Chicago is another team that has stayed engaged. The Bulls also pursued Mathurin before last season’s deadline, and Scotto reported that the new front office and coaching staff remain high on him. Still, a sign-and-trade looks like the only realistic route for Chicago given its current cap setup.
Milwaukee has checked in as well as it continues reshaping its roster. The Bucks have the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception and a $25.46 million traded player exception from the Giannis Antetokounmpo deal. Even so, they are dealing with a roster crunch and need to trim from 17 players down to the regular-season limit of 15.
Dallas is the other new name in the mix, and that path comes with its own complications. Scotto reported that any serious push from the Mavericks would likely require them to move or buy out Klay Thompson, who is entering the final year of his $17.46 million contract. If Thompson is out of the picture, Max Christie would be Dallas’ only traditional shooting guard under contract.
For now, though, the Clippers still want to keep Mathurin. He’s coming off a career-best season in which he averaged 17.6 points per game, and Los Angeles continues to view him as a key part of its long-term plans.
Marc Stein of The Stein Line had already reported interest from the Pelicans and Bulls. Scotto’s update adds Milwaukee and Dallas to the chase, turning Mathurin’s free agency into one of the offseason’s most closely watched situations while the Clippers wait for clarity on Leonard.
In Other News...
Bucks Face A Franchise Defining Trade Choice Fans Will Fight Over
The Bucks are being pulled into one of those speculative trade ideas that would ripple far beyond a single roster move, with a proposed swap built around Portlands need to sort out a suddenly crowded backcourt after bringing in Ja Morant. From Milwaukees side, the appeal is obvious enough to fuel the debate: a chance to reshape the guard mix and add younger talent, while also absorbing the kind of risk that comes with moving established pieces in a deal that is still only a concept.
What makes the idea linger is the mix of timelines involved. Tyler Herros contract situation adds another layer of urgency, and the Portland side of the discussion is complicated by the rise of Shaedon Sharpe and the long-term questions around Scoot Henderson. For Bucks fans, it is the kind of franchise-defining thought experiment that can split a room, because the upside is real even if the path to getting there remains completely unresolved. [Read more 🡒]
Bucks Move Could Make Nate Aments Path Even Tougher
Nate Ament was already looking at a developmental year, with the Bucks planning for their recent first-round pick to spend plenty of time sharpening his game in the G League. For a young forward trying to carve out a role in Milwaukee, the path was never going to be straightforward, especially with the team still sorting out its frontcourt rotation and long-term depth.
Now the picture could get even tighter if Milwaukee follows through on adding more size and versatility on the wing and at forward. Any move that brings in established pieces at Aments position would make it harder for him to get meaningful NBA minutes early, leaving him to compete for every opening while the Bucks try to balance immediate help with his development. [Read more 🡒]