Pelicans Land Mathurin on a $16M Flex Deal — And He's Holding All the Cards

The New Orleans Pelicans have been chasing Bennedict Mathurin for over a year. Now they've finally got him — and on his terms.

Sources told ESPN on Wednesday that Mathurin has agreed to a two-year, $16 million deal with the Pelicans, complete with a player option. That's not just a contract; it's a statement. Mathurin's camp went straight to the LA Clippers and asked them to pull his $8.8 million qualifying offer, clearing the runway for a situation that gives the 24-year-old something he values more than raw cash: freedom.

Flexibility Over Bag-Chasing

Mathurin could have taken longer-term offers with bigger guarantees. He chose the shortest possible path to unrestricted free agency next summer. That's a calculated move from a guy who knows exactly what he's worth. He's betting on himself — and the Pelicans are more than happy to ride along.

New Orleans sees Mathurin as a key piece of their young core, and this deal keeps them comfortably below the luxury tax line. It's a win-win: the Pelicans get a proven bucket-getter without wrecking their cap sheet, and Mathurin gets a stage to shine with an escape hatch ready.

Already a Problem Off the Bench

Last season, Mathurin averaged a career-best 17.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 0.8 steals across 54 games split between the Pacers and Clippers. He was the NBA's most productive reserve, dropping 17.5 points per game off the bench — the most in the league among players with at least 20 games in that role.

The Clippers acquired Mathurin last season in the multiplayer trade that sent center Ivica Zubac to Indiana. Now he's headed to the Big Easy, where he'll join a Pelicans squad hungry to make noise in the West.

Drafted No. 6 overall by the Pacers in 2022, Mathurin has averaged 16.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists over 263 career games. He's still just 24, and he's about to prove that sometimes the best contract is the one that lets you walk away.