The Los Angeles Clippers haven’t but rescinded the qualifying provide prolonged to restricted free agent Bennedict Mathurin, in accordance with Jake Fischer, creating an uncommon wrinkle within the ahead’s path to the New Orleans Pelicans.
Fischer reported that the Clippers might doubtlessly be compensated not directly by taking part in a multi-team transaction that helps New Orleans create the salary-cap room essential to signal Mathurin. Nonetheless, the Clippers can not obtain compensation outright in change for withdrawing Mathurin’s qualifying provide as a result of such an association would violate NBA collective bargaining guidelines.
The excellence is essential as a result of Mathurin stays an RFA whereas the Clippers retain his qualifying provide. Fairly than merely relinquishing their place for nothing, Los Angeles might 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 during which the group finally shifted towards a full rebuild. In 26 video games with Los Angeles, he averaged 17.4 factors, 5.5 rebounds and a couple of.5 assists in 28.0 minutes per recreation.
The 24-year-old shot 42.6% from the sphere and 85.8% from the free-throw line for the Clippers, though his three-point capturing 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 modifications for the Clippers. Los Angeles opened the 2025-26 season 6-21 and traded James Harden and Ivica Zubac on the deadline earlier than ultimately moving Kawhi Leonard in a blockbuster deal with 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 capturing 50.5% from the sphere and 38.7% from three-point vary. He earned All-NBA Second Staff honors and completed seventh in MVP voting.
The Clippers agreed to obtain Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round picks, a decide swap and two second-round picks from Toronto for Leonard. Nonetheless, the trade has been delayed amid NBA investigation.
The group has additionally added Rui Hachimura, re-signed Jordan Miller and Kobe Sanders, and acquired 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 property, the Mathurin scenario represents one other alternative for the Clippers to extract worth from an offseason roster resolution.
If New Orleans stays decided to signal Mathurin, Los Angeles’ willingness to take part in a multi-team transaction might turn out to be a key piece of the method. The Clippers can’t be paid merely for eradicating the qualifying provide, however Fischer’s report signifies they could nonetheless have a path to compensation by means of the mechanics of a bigger commerce.
