Bennedict Mathurin Joins Pelicans on $16M Deal After Averaging 17.6 PPG

Bennedict Mathurin has signed a two-year, $16 million contract with the New Orleans Pelicans that includes a player option.

Bennedict Mathurin and the New Orleans Pelicans have agreed to a two-year contract worth $16 million. The agreement, reported on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at 11:29 AM ET, includes a player option that allows the 24-year-old guard to prioritize flexibility. By securing this deal, the Pelicans remain below the luxury tax threshold for the current season while adding a player who averaged a career-high 17.6 points per game last year.

Mathurin enters New Orleans following a season where he recorded career-best averages of 5.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 0.8 steals across 54 total appearances. He split those games between the Indiana Pacers and the LA Clippers, earning 25 starts. Notably, his 17.5 points per game as a reserve led the NBA among all players with at least 20 appearances off the bench.

Contract Structure and Free Agency Path

The $16 million total commitment was designed to provide Mathurin with the earliest possible path to unrestricted free agency next summer. To facilitate this move, Mathurin’s representatives requested that the LA Clippers withdraw his $8.8 million qualifying offer. This maneuver granted the former No. 6 overall pick the ability to seek a more favorable situation in New Orleans rather than accepting longer-term offers that featured greater team control but less immediate security.

New Orleans has pursued the 6-foot-6 guard aggressively for over twelve months. The front office views him as a significant component of their young core. By structuring the deal over two years, the Pelicans successfully integrated his salary while maintaining their status below the luxury tax line.

Trade History and Career Statistics

Mathurin arrived in Los Angeles last season via a multiplayer trade with the Indiana Pacers. That transaction involved center Ivica Zubac moving to Indiana in exchange for the wing. Since being selected sixth in the 2022 NBA Draft, Mathurin has appeared in 263 career games over four professional seasons.

His career averages currently stand at 16.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per contest. The move to the Pelicans represents a shift toward a roster where he is expected to play a major role alongside their established talent. The New Orleans front office had identified Mathurin as a primary target long before this week's agreement was finalized.

Impact on the Pelicans Roster

The addition of Mathurin provides the Pelicans with a proven scoring threat who has demonstrated elite efficiency in a sixth-man role. His 17.6 points per game average from the previous season highlights his ability to produce high-volume scoring in limited minutes.

This signing concludes a period of free agency where Mathurin weighed the benefits of total guaranteed money against the strategic advantage of a shorter contract. By choosing the two-year, $16 million structure, he aligns his future with the Pelicans' timeline while retaining the option to re-enter the market as an unrestricted free agent. The deal was confirmed by sources to ESPN and marks a significant adjustment to the New Orleans backcourt rotation for the 2026-27 NBA season.