Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[Smitty]

IIUC the offer being reported is merely a handshake deal of intent, and not an actual offer. And I'm not sure it's an actual workable deal.

I am away from laptop to look up and verify, but I think the following obstacles are still unresolved if I understand the reports
1 he is RFA, so NO must make a written offer that LAC can match ... rather than come to an agreement without that
2 an offer to a RFA must have at least TWO hard years in the deal, this is only a 1+1
3 as reported it is about the same as the QO that LAC has on the table ... iirc its 8.xM QO ... and NO offer is really just the same 2/16 but yr 2 is just an option
4 FWIW if Mavs had any interest they could EASILY have offered way more, and obviously have not in light of the small size

It seems like Mathurin wants to only be committed for 1 year and then be a FA again, but as a FA the only way thats possible is to sign the QO. If LAC will remove the QO, then he can sign that 1+1 with NO, but LAC loses control.by doing so and theres no trade or compensation, so it's quite an unrealistic going-nowhere ask. The NO front office under Dumars again seems incredibly unware of the rules and their nuances.

@BrettSiegelNBA
Was just informed that the Clippers are in the process of pulling Bennedict Mathurin's qualifying offer, which will allow him to become an UFA and sign his new 2yr/16M deal with the Pelicans.

Mathurin's side has been pushing for such to happen so he could join the Pelicans, a team that has pursued him for over a year and view him as a long-term piece of what they are building.

Lead executive Joe Dumars was the main recruiter in getting a deal done with Mathurin this summer.

Mathurin's Year 1 salary will be right around the qualifying offer with LAC ($8.8M).


There is NOT a sign-and-trade for Mathurin. He will be signing his contract with the Pelicans straight up as an UFA once his QO is officially rescinded by the Clippers.

Mathurin’s contract is 2yr/$16M and has a player option for the 2027-28 season.


Sources say the Bulls were among the most aggressive of several teams interested in a Bennedict Mathurin sign-and-trade this offseason, but signing with the Pelicans offered him a spot where he's coveted long-term and can get to UFA quicker.

The Year 2 player option also adds a layer of insurance for Mathurin.