Bennedict Mathurin didn’t land in New Orleans quietly, and he didn’t sound like a player easing into a new stop, either.
The Pelicans’ biggest move of a fairly calm offseason was bringing in the restricted free agent on a two-year, $16 million deal, and Mathurin already looks like a player with a point to make. After being traded to the Los Angeles Clippers before last season’s deadline, the former Indiana Pacers forward closed the year with strong production in Los Angeles, putting up 17.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.0 steals across 28 games.
The Clippers chose not to match the Pelicans’ qualifying offer, which cleared the path for the 24-year-old to join New Orleans. At Media Day, Mathurin made it clear he feels wanted.
"It's great to be where a team really wants me. You know what I'm saying?
It goes both ways. We have great teammates, we have a great coaching staff, a great front office, a great owner, and great people to do media with," Mathurin told Fox 8 New Orleans reporter Madeline Adams.
That message can be read a few different ways, including as a shot at the Clippers or at any team that didn’t come through with an offer. Either way, it points to a player who should arrive with plenty of fuel.
There’s also a financial angle here. The second season of Mathurin’s deal includes a player option, so a strong year could put him in position to opt out and chase a new multi-year contract in New Orleans, or test free agency sooner than that.
From the Pelicans’ perspective, the appeal is obvious. Mathurin brings scoring punch off the bench, plus real playoff mileage from his time with the Pacers.
The former eighth overall pick helped Indiana get to the NBA Finals in 2025, then delivered in the biggest moments. He scored 27 points off the bench in Game 3 against the Oklahoma City Thunder and added 24 in Game 7.
At 24, he already owns a résumé that stands out on this roster. His downhill game is one of his calling cards, and he has a knack for getting to the line. Since entering the league in 2022, Mathurin ranks fifth among guards and wings in free-throw attempt rate.
That skill set should matter for a Pelicans team that struggled badly in clutch situations last season. New Orleans went 12-30 in clutch games, and the offense as a whole needed more easy points after finishing 17th in scoring last season and 25th the year before.
There’s a rotation puzzle here, too. Newly hired head coach Jamahl Mosley now has to sort out minutes on a wing group that already includes Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, Saddiq Bey, and Bryce McGowens. But Mathurin brings a different offensive gear, and New Orleans hasn’t had that kind of energy in a while.
For now, the fit looks promising, and the motivation is obvious. Mathurin wants to prove something, and the Pelicans sound like they want that same edge around the building. If it turns into wins, they may have found one of their more important additions of the offseason.
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Early training camp reports only add to the unease around what Looney can still provide on a night-to-night basis. Los Angeles is already staring at roster cuts and a deadline to trim guaranteed contracts, so if the backup center spot remains unsettled, the front office may not wait long to explore a trade and try to find a more dependable option. [Read more 🡒]