Mathurin averaged 17.6 points per game in 54 appearances with the Pacers and Clippers in 2025-26.
The New Orleans Pelicans reportedly agreed to a deal with free agent Bennedict Mathurin on a two-year, $16 million contract that includes a player option.
Bennedict Mathurin has agreed to a two-year, $16 million deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, including a player option, sources tell ESPN.
Mathurin’s reps approached the Clippers about withdrawing his $8.8M qualifying offer, effectively turning the QO into a more favorable… pic.twitter.com/U53SEBOm3m
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 26, 2026
Mathurin averaged 17.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg and 2.4 apg across 54 games with the Indiana Pacers and LA Clippers last season. The 2022 sixth overall pick was traded to LA in February of 2026 after spending his first three and a half seasons in Indiana. Mathurin scored a career-high-tying 38 points off the bench in a 115–114 win over the Denver Nuggets in his Clippers debut.
Mathurin carved out a key bench contributor role during his time with the Pacers and was an integral piece of the 2024-25 team that made an NBA Finals run. In the championship series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, he scored a playoff career-high 27 points in only 22 minutes off the bench in a 116–107 Game 3 win.
