NBA: Mathurin agrees to two-year, $16M deal with Pelicans

Pelicans land their long-time target

Bennedict Mathurin is on his way to New Orleans. According to ESPN sources, the guard has agreed to a two-year, $16 million contract with the Pelicans that includes a player option for the second season. As part of the move, Mathurin’s representatives approached the LA Clippers about withdrawing his $8.8 million qualifying offer, clearing the path for him to sign with New Orleans as a free agent.

This isn’t a snap decision on the Pelicans’ part. Sources say New Orleans has aggressively pursued Mathurin for more than a year, repeatedly circling back to the 23-year-old as a target to add scoring punch to the perimeter.

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A short-term bet with upside on both sides

The structure of the deal tells its own story. A two-year, $16 million contract with a player option gives Mathurin a quick runway back to unrestricted free agency if he performs well in New Orleans, while it lets the Pelicans add a proven scorer without committing to a long-term price tag. If the fit clicks, both sides get leverage for a bigger extension down the line.

For New Orleans, Mathurin slots into a backcourt that has lacked consistent shot creation, giving head coach Willie Green another option who can score in transition and off the dribble.

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