Bennedict Mathurin’s restricted free agency is finally starting to move somewhere. Marc Stein reported that the Bulls and Pelicans are still keeping an eye on the 24-year-old scorer, and Jake Fischer added that the Clippers wouldn’t mind working out a sign-and-trade instead of just matching an offer sheet and keeping him around. LA still wants him back, sure, but this whole situation is far from settled.
The Pelicans really should be pushing hard for this one. They finished 26-56, dead last in the West standings pretty much (11th), and then followed that up with an offseason with zero new additions. Dejounte Murray coming back healthy helps, obviously, but thinking one guy returning fixes a team that only won 26 games is just not realistic. New Orleans needs more scoring punch, more athleticism, and honestly a younger direction after failing to make the playoffs again.
The Bulls have also popped up in Mathurin rumors, but this particular three-team idea sends them somewhere else instead. After bringing in Nic Claxton and Norman Powell, it’s pretty clear the Bulls want to actually compete again rather than tank through another season. With Anfernee Simons gone to LeBron James’ 76ers superteam, grabbing Jordan Poole would give them back some of that bench scoring punch and shot creation they just lost.
It’s a bit of a gamble for all three sides, but at least everyone involved is actually trying to move forward instead of standing still. Here’s the framework.
Trade Details
Los Angeles Clippers Receive: Isaac Okoro, 2028 second-round pick (swap rights with Pacers or Suns), 2030 second-round pick (swap rights with Pacers), 2031 second-round pick (via Nuggets)
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: Bennedict Mathurin, Patrick Williams
Chicago Bulls Receive: Jordan Poole
Mathurin would sign a three-year, $45.0 million deal with the Clippers first, then get flipped to New Orleans as part of the sign-and-trade. Money-wise, the Clippers send out Mathurin’s $15.0 million and bring back Isaac Okoro at $11.8 million. The Pelicans move Poole’s $34.0 million expiring deal off the books and absorb roughly $33.0 million combined between Mathurin and Patrick Williams’ $18.0 million. Chicago ships out about $29.8 million (Williams plus Okoro) and takes on Poole’s $34.0 million.
Why The Pelicans Say Yes
The Pelicans can’t really run it back with basically the same group after a 26-win season and expect people to buy that this team suddenly competes for a playoff spot. Jordan Poole was rough last year: 13.4 points, 3.1 assists, and 2.0 rebounds on just 37.2% shooting across 39 games. Paying $34.0 million for that kind of output is brutal, even with the deal set to expire.
Mathurin instantly makes them younger and tougher on the perimeter. He put up 17.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists last season while shooting 43.0% from the field. His three-point shot and shot selection still need work, but he gets downhill, draws fouls, and brings the kind of aggression this roster has been missing. Picture a backcourt rotation of Dejounte Murray, Mathurin, and Jeremiah Fears. That group would finally have some size and downhill pressure.
Patrick Williams is the less thrilling part of the deal. Just 7.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.5 assists on 37.2% shooting last season, which is rough for a guy still owed $54.0 million over three years. He’s still only 24, though, has real tools defensively, and might play looser once he’s not being treated like a future Kawhi Leonard bet anymore.
To be honest, I still think the smart move for New Orleans is a full rebuild. Try to shop Trey Murphy III, Dejounte Murray, Zion Williamson, and Herb Jones for whatever they can get. This deal alone doesn’t turn them into contenders. But if they’re insisting on chasing a playoff spot regardless, swapping one overpaid, underperforming guard for two younger wings beats sitting around hoping everyone stays healthy this time.
The Clippers Stay Active On The Draft Market
The Clippers finished 42-40, ninth in the West, and their whole roster situation is in limbo while the Kawhi Leonard investigation keeps the proposed Raptors deal on ice. Mathurin’s talented, no doubt, but the Clippers already used the No. 5 pick on Keaton Wagler, and if the Leonard trade eventually clears, they could be adding Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick too. There might just not be enough shots or minutes left to justify locking in another contract for an only-scoring forward.
Isaac Okoro isn’t close to Mathurin as a scorer at 9.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists on 46.0% shooting last season, but he’s a lower-usage wing who defends, runs the floor, and doesn’t need 12 shots a night to impact the game. His expiring $11.8 million deal also gives the Clippers a lot more breathing room than tying up $45.0 million over three years in Mathurin.
They also add three second-round picks for going along with the sign-and-trade. None of them are exciting on their own, but the Clippers have basically no draft capital left after years of trading it away, so even modest seconds help.
It’s not a pretty look from an asset-management standpoint since they gave up Ivica Zubac to get Mathurin back in February, and now they’d be turning him into Okoro plus some seconds a few months later. Not great, even with Wagler as the main return with the Pacers’ pick. But once the front office decides he’s not part of the long-term plan, holding onto him just because of what they already gave up would be worse.
Why Chicago Might Need Poole
The Bulls went 31-51, 12th in the East, but everything about their offseason says they’re done tanking. Claxton gives them a legit rim protector, Powell gives them a proven scoring punch, and they still have Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, and rookie Caleb Wilson in the mix. They’re probably not a real contender yet, but they’re clearly trying to look like an actual NBA black horse.
Poole would help replace some of the instant offense they lost when Simons walked to Philadelphia. Yes, his year in New Orleans was bad, but the season before that he averaged 20.5 points and shot 37.8% from three with the Wizards. Used as a sixth man behind Giddey and Powell instead of a primary ball-handler, he could give second units some scoring pop and unpredictability without wrecking the starting lineup’s balance.
The money side might be the real win here, though. Patrick Williams is still owed $54.0 million over three seasons and hasn’t come close to justifying it. Okoro’s fine, but he’s in a contract year anyway. This trade turns both into one expiring $34.0 million deal, which opens up serious flexibility heading into the 2027 offseason if Poole doesn’t rebound.
Giving up three second-rounders isn’t free, but two are just swap rights, and the third comes from Denver, so that’s a pretty small cost for shedding Williams’ money, adding a possible scoring spark off the bench, and clearing long-term salary. Worst case, Poole struggles again next season, but at least Chicago gains a big chunk of cap space for the following summer.
