Late in the offseason, the LA Clippers decided it wasn’t worth re-signing Bennedict Mathurin. Was he young and highly talented? Absolutely. But in the same breath, Mathurin had his own flaws. All he could really offer was scoring, which is not enough to earn the big bucks in the modern era, and even then, the 24-year-old had a playstyle that wouldn’t lead to wins.
A few games into the 2026-27 regular season, it turns out the Clippers were right: Mathurin is currently averaging 7.8 points and 2.6 rebounds, both career lows, shooting 43.8% from the field and 25.0% from beyond the arc.
Had the Clippers brought him back, even on the annual $8 million salary the New Orleans Pelicans paid him, they probably wouldn’t be happy with their decision.
Letting Bennedict Mathurin go was a smart choice made by the LA Clippers
Rightfully so, many people, like me, criticized the LA Clippers for wanting to bring on youth but then letting a 24-year-old scoring specialist in Bennedict Mathurin sign elsewhere. He seemed to be on an All-Star track, but the Clippers could see the future.
Simply put, the Clippers didn’t let the good overlook the bad. While Mathurin could put points on the board at a high level, make highlight-reel-worthy plays, and even show up in the clutch, he couldn’t shoot the ball consistently. This led to problems on offense.
For some context, Mathurin shot 20.7% from three as a member of the Clippers. Years ago, that might’ve worked. But in 2026, when the game revolves so much around three-pointers, players at almost every position have to be able to let it fly from longer distances.
This, plus the fact that he was a bit selfish when getting downhill and wasn’t much of a playmaker, forced the Clippers to let him go.
Now, in New Orleans, the Pelicans are seeing much of the same.
If he were better from a distance, or had notable strengths elsewhere, Mathurin would have a massive role in the Pelicans’ rotation. Since that’s not the case, he’s played 20 minutes or less in every game.
Mathurin is a limited factor on a team that’s currently 1-4 and second-to-last in the Western Conference. This reality speaks volumes.
That said, the Clippers weren’t wrong for going the opposite direction. They were ahead of the game, and we’re seeing why directly in front of our eyes.
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