Bennedict Mathurin in action for the Clippers. Mandatory Credit: Imagn Images
Mandatory Credit: Imagn Images
It’s been nearly three decades since the Chicago Bulls won their last NBA title. To date, most of the time in between has been defined by misery, mediocrity, and failure at practically every turn. Even so, things are actually starting to look up for the Bulls after so long of being stuck in purgatory.
With a young and developing roster, Chicago does not have title expectations, but they are in a position to potentially surprise their critics. Of course, it would help if they added more firepower to the rotation, and that’s where Bennedict Mathurin comes in. According to the latest rumblings out of the Windy City, Mathurin (who has also been tied to the Pelicans) has emerged as a potential sign-and-trade candidate who could move the needle.
“The Bulls have their $9.3 million room mid-level exception left, but Mathurin is expected to make something around the full mid-level range ($15 million AAV),” reported Brett Seigel of ClutchPoints. “Giving up Isaac Okoro and some second-round picks would likely be enough to get the Clippers to sign off on a Mathurin sign-and-trade. This is definitely one of the smoothest and easiest paths to a deal for Los Angeles.”
The Bulls are considered a legacy franchise in the NBA, but they’ve struggled to be competitive over the last few years. Last season, despite a promising start, they finished 12th in the East at 31-51. Going into the upcoming season, expectations are being kept low, but there’s reason to believe they might be poised for a better showing.
This summer, the Bulls did not acquire a top-tier superstar, but they still got notably better with several roster additions like Caleb Wilson, Dailyn Swain, Nic Claxton, Norman Powell, and Zach Collins. They also hired former Spurs center Tiago Splitter, an NBA champion and seven-year NBA veteran.
In Mathurin, the Bulls would get another promising player to add to their growing young core. At 6’5″ and 210 pounds, he’s a versatile athlete known for his explosiveness, maturity, and ideal size on the wing. He’s the perfect modern-day three-and-d player coming off his best season yet with averages of 17.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game on 42.6% shooting from the field.
As a restricted free agent, the Clippers still hold Mathurin’s bird rights, meaning they can match any offer sheet for the two-way swingman. That’s why the best course of action for the Bulls is to pursue a sign-and-trade agreement that gives each side what they want.
The potential framework for a deal could include Isaac Okoro and multiple draft picks, allowing the Bulls to add a rotation player without breaking up their pre-established core. While they would still fall behind teams like the Knicks, Pacers, 76ers, and Cavaliers, Mathurin’s impact might just be enough for them to contend for a play-in spot.
Regardless of the results, this is a Bulls team that has nothing left to lose right now. With no set vision or plan for the future, Chicago is handling the team-building process one step at a time, and they don’t want to make any mistakes that could derail their progress.