After years of being regarded as one of the NBA’s punching bags, the New Orleans Pelicans may have just found the last piece to begin their journey back into the postseason after signing free agent Bennedict Mathurin.
The 24‑year‑old wing inked a two‑year, $16 million contract with a player option in his final year, prioritizing flexibility and a faster path to unrestricted free agency in 2027.
Mathurin had been on the Pelicans’ radar since last season but lost the trade‑deadline bidding war to the Los Angeles Clippers, where he appeared in 26 games as the Clippers missed out on the playoffs.
Mathurin Continues ‘Spark Plug’ Role with Pelicans
Selected by the Indiana Pacers as the sixth overall pick in the 2022 draft, Mathurin spent most of his time with the team as part of the first five, logging a total of 109 games with the Pacers as a starting wing.
After three and a half seasons, Mathurin was traded to the Clippers in February 2026 for Ivica Zubac, where he saw a major dip in usage, starting in only one game during his short tenure in LA.
Despite that, Mathurin’s production showed no signs of decline, as he averaged 17.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2 assists per game, including a career‑high 38‑point performance in his Clippers debut.
A bench role is nothing new to the 6‑foot‑5 wing, as he took on the same role in Indiana’s historic Finals run in 2025, where he averaged 12.3 points and 5.5 rebounds for the Pacers in their 7‑game bout with the eventual champions, the OKC Thunder.
Can New Orleans Finally Return to the Playoffs?
The Pelicans have endured nightmarish campaigns over the past two seasons, finishing 14th in the Western Conference in 2025 and 11th in 2026, combining for only 47 wins in that span.
The Crescent City last made the playoffs in 2024, where they were eventually swept by the Thunder.
With the star duo of Zion Williamson and Dejounte Murray continuing to shine, and the addition of Mathurin heavily reinforcing the Pelicans’ second unit, the New Orleans roster is being polished. A return to the postseason may just come soon enough.
