The Los Angeles Clippers haven’t but rescinded the qualifying supply prolonged to restricted free agent Bennedict Mathurin, in keeping with Jake Fischer, creating an uncommon wrinkle within the ahead’s path to the New Orleans Pelicans.
Fischer reported that the Clippers may doubtlessly be compensated not directly by collaborating in a multi-team transaction that helps New Orleans create the salary-cap room essential to signal Mathurin. Nevertheless, the Clippers can’t obtain compensation outright in alternate for withdrawing Mathurin’s qualifying supply as a result of such an association would violate NBA collective bargaining guidelines.
The excellence is necessary as a result of Mathurin stays an RFA whereas the Clippers retain his qualifying supply. Quite than merely relinquishing their place for nothing, Los Angeles may discover whether or not its involvement in a bigger commerce can produce an asset whereas concurrently serving to facilitate Mathurin’s transfer to New Orleans.
Mathurin spent a part of the 2025-26 season with the Clippers after arriving throughout a season wherein the group in the end shifted towards a full rebuild. In 26 video games with Los Angeles, he averaged 17.4 factors, 5.5 rebounds and a pair of.5 assists in 28.0 minutes per recreation.
The 24-year-old shot 42.6% from the sector and 85.8% from the free-throw line for the Clippers, though his three-point taking pictures dropped to twenty.7% on 3.2 makes an attempt per recreation. He additionally recorded 1.0 steal and 0.3 blocks per contest.
Mathurin’s function got here amid main adjustments for the Clippers. Los Angeles opened the 2025-26 season 6-21 and traded James Harden and Ivica Zubac on the deadline earlier than finally shifting Kawhi Leonard in a blockbuster take care of the Toronto Raptors.
Leonard had been the Clippers’ main scorer, averaging 27.9 factors, 6.4 rebounds and three.6 assists in 65 video games whereas taking pictures 50.5% from the sector and 38.7% from three-point vary. He earned All-NBA Second Workforce honors and completed seventh in MVP voting.
The Clippers agreed to obtain Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round picks, a choose swap and two second-round picks from Toronto for Leonard. Nevertheless, the commerce has been delayed amid NBA investigation.
The group has additionally added Rui Hachimura, re-signed Jordan Miller and Kobe Sanders, and bought Johni Broome because it reshapes the roster round a youthful core.
Los Angeles completed 42-40 and ninth within the Western Convention, reaching the play-in event. With Leonard gone and the franchise prioritizing flexibility and future belongings, the Mathurin scenario represents one other alternative for the Clippers to extract worth from an offseason roster choice.
If New Orleans stays decided to signal Mathurin, Los Angeles’ willingness to take part in a multi-team transaction may turn into a key piece of the method. The Clippers can’t be paid merely for eradicating the qualifying supply, however Fischer’s report signifies they might nonetheless have a path to compensation by way of the mechanics of a bigger commerce.
