Los Angeles Clippers guard Bennedict Mathurin (9) reacts after scoring a basket and drawing the foul against the New York Knicks during the second half at Intuit Dome with Clippers' Max Strus
Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
After the LA Clippers traded for Max Strus, adding another guard in a crowded backcourt, what does it mean for Bennedict Mathurin amidst his contract negotiations? Strus reunites his former teammate Darius Garland of the Cleveland Cavs. On the heels of the Clippers re-signing Bradley Beal this summer, could Mathurin be on the move ahead of the 2026-27 season?
Despite Strus arrival, Mathurin's ongoing talks with the Clippers haven't changed, according to ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel.
“Nothing has really changed on this front. We did some writing and reporting on it on Monday,” Siegel said. “Of the best remaining free agents, we talked about Peyton Watson's situation. We talked about Kuminga, Mathurin, and we basically wrote that the Clippers, as of right now, still seems like the most likely scenario is that he returns to Los Angeles. And that holds true as of today, Thursday, after the Peyton Watson sign-and-trade, after Max Strus goes to the Clippers.
“Right now, nothing has changed on that front because the Watson pursuit, and the Clippers being linked to them, it had nothing to do with Mathurin's potential return. Those are two separate issues. Two separate things that the Clippers are talking about internally. And the big elephant in the room is still this Kawhi Leonard investigation.”
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Ahead of the conclusion to the NBA's Kawhi Leonard investigation following the All-Star's trade to the Toronto Raptors, the Clippers are await for a potential punishment, which continues to linger over the franchise amidst the final weeks of free agency.
“When it does, then they can move forward with their other moves, whether that's trading Derrick Jones Jr., whether that's bringing back [Bennedict] Mathurin; whether that's doing a sign-and-trade with Ben Mathurin because maybe there's other contracts to bring on that front,” Siegel added. “Until that solves itself, there's going to be no movement on the Clippers front.
“If there is going to be a path to a sign-and-trade, we know the teams that have interest — the Chicago Bulls, the Milwaukee Bucks, and the New Orleans Pelicans have all been viewed as these teams that are the suitors for Ben Mathurin. And if there's one that sticks out from that group, to me, it has to be Chicago, simply because they have the Magic salary of Isaac Okoro. And he's the type of player I feel like would fit this system well in Los Angeles.”
After Strus left the Miami Heat, he and Garland played two and a half seasons with the Cavs.