The Los Angeles Clippers have an important decision to make with one of the NBA‘s more promising young players, and they may not be the only team interested in seeing what Bennedict Mathurin can do next.
Mathurin arrived in Los Angeles after the Indiana Pacers traded him as part of a deal that brought Ivica Zubac to Indiana. The Pacers have been focused on avoiding the luxury tax as much as possible, while the Clippers have been looking for more young talent to add around their established core. So far, Mathurin has looked good in Los Angeles.
He averaged 17.8 points per game with Indiana over 28 games while shooting 37.2% from 3-point range. With the Clippers, he averaged 17.4 points per game, although his outside shot hasn’t quite followed him to Los Angeles. That’s something the Clippers will obviously want to see improve, but there’s lots to like about the 23-year-old’s game.
Mathurin also already has NBA Finals experience, which is a pretty useful thing to have at his age. He scored 27 points in Game 3 against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the Pacers’ run to the Finals, showing that the moment wasn’t too big for him.
The Clippers now have a choice to make with Mathurin, who earned $9.2 million last season and is a restricted free agent with full rights. Keeping him would give Los Angeles another young piece to develop alongside its veteran talent.
But, if the Clippers decide not to keep him, there should be interest elsewhere. Teams such as the Chicago Bulls could have a reason to take a closer look at Mathurin, especially if they’re looking for another young scorer with experience and upside. His age, scoring ability and playoff résumé could make him an appealing target for teams trying to add talent without taking a major risk.
Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report has Mathurin among the top remaining free agents to watch, which makes his next move worth monitoring.
The Clippers like what they have in Mathurin. Now they have to decide whether he’s part of their future.