So far into his tenure, it’s safe to say Bennedict Mathurin has a problem: getting downhill with a selfish mindset that has often yielded unsuccessful possessions. It’s like Mathurin can’t switch gears to pass the rock once he’s in the mode of attempting to finish at the rim. This flaw in his game was pointed out on the ‘Zach Lowe Show,’ and as a result, the LA Clippers could use it against him by offering the 23-year-old less money as a restricted free agent than he desires.
This makes sense as the likely outcome, considering Lawrence Frank is extremely frugal with the Clippers’ money, which is a phenomenal characteristic, and enough has been seen that Mathurin still has to prove himself as a scorer.
Additionally, by saving several million by offering Mathurin a market-based contract that will likely be lower than he expects, the Clippers can add other key free agents who can produce in areas of need.
Benedict Mathurin will have no one to blame but himself for the money he receives
Once traded for, Bennedict Mathurin was in a position to reach the status of someone the LA Clippers would hand over an empty check to in the offseason. It's rare for players of his age to have the utmost freedom with the ball, yet Tyronn Lue granted it to him for the right reasons.
And, to a certain extent, he’s made the most of it. In 21 games as a Clipper, Mathurin has averaged 19.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 29.2 minutes.
But, attacking the basket is where he’s fallen short. Instead of driving to the cup with an open mind, where he decides what to do based on how the defense reacts, he hunts for foul calls.
This mentality will often lead him to take a shot over multiple defenders, which explains why he’s been relatively inefficient (43.9% from the floor) as a six-foot-five wing in his new threads.
Though one would expect a player with such height, a lengthy wingspan, and ridiculous athletic abilities to be better around the rim, that hasn’t been the case. He’s been underwhelming at the iron thus far.
So, when Mathurin is sent the Clippers’ official offer, he can point to himself as the person to blame. He will have countless chances to redeem himself for a lucrative extension, but for now, the money he sees is what he deserves.