While the CBA has undoubtedly affected how teams approach roster building in the offseason, no group of players has been more adversely impacted than restricted free agents. From the likes of Jalen Duren, Peyton Watson, Bennedict Mathurin, and many more, several find themselves facing difficult conversations about their new contracts.
Bennedict Mathurin’s case with the Los Angeles Clippers is particularly interesting. After a brief but fruitful tenure in L.A., it was expected that Mathurin would remain a part of the team’s core. However, with his contract extension becoming a critical point of discussion, it appears the Clippers are open to parting with him in a potential sign-and-trade deal. NBA insider Marc Stein reported on this, writing:
“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.”
Stein ended by noting that the Clippers would prefer to retain the 24-year-old guard, but their willingness to part with him is far more noteworthy. Keeping this in mind, NBA insider Jake Weinbach also stated that a Western Conference team may have some interest in acquiring him.
“The Mavericks would be a team worth monitoring for Bennedict Mathurin in a sign-and-trade framework,” Weinbach shared.
The notion of a team like the Mavericks entering the race to acquire Bennedict Mathurin is certainly intriguing. To that point, Weinbach’s additional comment about the 24-year-old liking this post only gave rise to more speculation.
As a team entering rebuild mode this summer, Dallas could be a promising landing spot for Mathurin. Thus, with a sign-and-trade deal setting the foundation for the deal, here is a potential trade package that could help the Mavericks land the 24-year-old wing:
Proposed Trade Details
Dallas Mavericks Receive: Bennedict Mathurin
Los Angeles Clippers Receive: Klay Thompson, 2032 first-round pick swap
For reference, this trade is built on the assumption that Mathurin signs a three-year deal worth roughly $54 million ($18 million annually). Therefore, we begin by exploring how this trade scenario would affect both teams financially.
Financial Outlook
At roughly $18 million annually, Bennedict Mathurin is appropriately valued as a high-quality wing. Given how the Mavericks are proceeding with their rebuild, acquiring him at this price is quite promising.
Dallas would be absorbing marginally more money than they send out in this trade, since Klay Thompson is on an expiring contract worth $17.4 million. However, given that their total payroll currently sits at $194.7 million, an excess of $600,000 should not be as much of an issue.
This deal isn’t too problematic for the Clippers either. With a total payroll of $154.1 million after offloading Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors, the Clippers are $10.9 million below the salary cap.
Hence, along with shedding some salary with the acquisition of Thompson, L.A. also gains future cap flexibility in this trade scenario. This could prove crucial in pursuing superstar free agents in the summer of 2027.
How Does This Trade Impact Both Teams?
The impact of this trade on the Clippers is far less significant than on the Mavericks. As a rebuilding team, Los Angeles is bound to focus on developing its younger players while allowing their superstar core of Darius Garland and Brandon Ingram to build chemistry over the course of the season.
From a performance perspective, Klay Thompson would not bring much to the table aside from veteran leadership and championship experience.
Given that he averaged 11.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game while shooting 39.3% from the field and 38.3% from three-point range, the 36-year-old could still contribute as a solid rotation piece. However, given how much more valuable he is by virtue of his expiring contract, the Clippers may still be satisfied with his addition.
For the Mavericks, this deal is significant for several reasons. As a team looking to rebuild around Cooper Flagg, Dallas has attempted to surround their budding superstar with the right talent. On that note, the addition of players like Morez Johnson Jr. and Sergio De Larrea in the draft was quite significant.
Still, it can be argued that the young star could do with more support on the wings. On that note, acquiring a gifted young two-way wing like Bennedict Mathurin seems appropriate.
Mathurin has proven himself as a reliable perimeter defender and a capable offensive player. Along with solid physical tools and athleticism, the 24-year-old also possesses a versatile offensive game, featuring three-level scoring ability, though his perimeter shooting could do with some improvement.
Last season, Bennedict Mathurin averaged 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-point range. Although the Mavs feature gifted scorers like Kyrie Irving and a solid two-way wing in Naji Marshall, adding a young star to pair with Cooper Flagg seems like a feasible strategy.
Should The Mavericks Pursue Bennedict Mathurin?
On paper, there is considerable merit in the Mavericks pursuing Bennedict Mathurin. At 24, the guard’s timeline aligns with Cooper Flagg‘s developmental trajectory. Given that Dallas currently has veterans who are in a “win-now” state, Mathurin’s playoff experience also gives them the flexibility to remain competitive without compromising their rebuilding plans.
As an outright scorer on offense, Mathurin’s skill set would pair well with Cooper Flagg’s playmaking versatility. To some extent, the inevitable floor-spacing issues could cause some growing pains, but there is enough reason to believe that, with enough time, the duo could be quite formidable.
The issue, however, may ultimately lie in the trade package.
Although Klay Thompson could be a solid pickup for the Clippers, given their approach to rebuilding, L.A. may not want an aging veteran at this stage. With reports suggesting that Thompson’s contract could be bought out, Dallas could be forced to create another package.
Theoretically, the Mavs could also consider packaging any combination of Caleb Martin, Max Christie, or Naji Marshall to acquire Bennedict Mathurin. Realistically, however, given how vital both Marshall and Christie have become, Dallas may be less inclined to do this deal.
Currently, Bennedict Mathurin’s contract negotiations remain in a stalemate, much like the other restricted free agents in the market. However, given the Denver Nuggets’ willingness to move Peyton Watson in a potential sign-and-trade deal, there is speculation that Mathurin could be packaged with Derrick Jones Jr. and draft capital to complete the trade.
