At first glance, the New Orleans Pelicans and their fans are probably thrilled to have signed Bennedict Mathurin. Understandably so, he just averaged over 17 points per game and is on a contract over the next two seasons worth just $8 million annually. Looking at these variables, anyone would be excited, and it gets better that he is just 24 years old.
However, once the regular season kicks off, Mathurin will show the Pelicans a lesson they didn’t see coming: a selfish, tunnel-vision play style will cause havoc in the entire offense.
Mathurin is a great player with lots of potential, but his biggest flaw as a member of the LA Clippers was that he only looked to score. This led to empty possessions and careless turnovers, which eventually forced head coach Tyronn Lue to diminish his role later in the season.
There’s a reason why Mathurin played just five minutes in a high-stakes game on April 10th, versus the Portland Trail Blazers. He was completely healthy; Lue just didn’t want him on the court.
The New Orleans Pelicans will realize Bennedict Mathurin’s playstyle doesn’t fit
Though the New Orleans Pelicans didn’t win much last season, they still have a roster packed with talent, from the former first overall pick and two-time All-Star in Zion Williamson to a talented point guard in Dejounte Murray, to the future of the franchise in Trey Murphy.
New Orleans already has their system set and ready to go, and with Bennedict Mathurin, conflict on the court is inevitable.
He will demand the ball to be in his hands, won’t check his surroundings when driving downhill, and will simply attempt to score by any means necessary. There is no doubt this’ll ultimately lead to problems on offense.
Sometimes, these traits are good to have, but on a team like the Pelicans, it’s not. Instead, they need a wing that can get buckets and be a playmaker at the same time. That’s not who Mathurin is.
Luckily for the Pelicans, they only signed Mathurin to a two-year deal with a player option. This contract is easily flippable, as teams may be interested in him at the deadline with little to no impact on the cap room.
That said, Pelicans fans must be ready to be shocked. While Mathurin may thrive in certain areas, overall, the way he plays won’t mesh well in Jamahl Mosley’s offensive scheme.
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