Why Bennedict Mathurin is Pelicans' missing piece to pull a 180 back into playoff mix appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New Orleans Pelicans had eyes for Bennedict Mathurin long before he agreed to a two-year, $16 million contract, joining two-time All-Star Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, and Dejounte Murray as the team’s improved core. Although the second year on Mathurin’s deal is a player option, adding the young guard to complement the Pelicans’ dynamic trio is worth the risk for New Orleans.
Mathurin increases the Pelicans’ chances of making their first playoff appearance in three years after they tried to make a move for the four-year guard ahead of last season’s trade deadline, according to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, William Guillory, and Law Murray.
“According to another league source who spoke on the condition of anonymity for their candor, New Orleans has been interested in Mathurin since his time in Indiana and sees him as a potential long-term piece,” Amick, Guillory, and Murray reported. “The source said the Pelicans tried to acquire him before the trade deadline in February, when the Pacers dealt him to the Clippers instead.”
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Mathurin, 24, averaged 17.6 points and 5.6 rebounds for the Indiana Pacers and the LA Clippers last season. He also made 37.2% of his 3-point attempts in his 28 games for the Pacers. Coming off arguably his best season with the Pelicans, Murphy III posted averages of 21.5 points on 47% shooting, including 37.9% from deep, and career-bests 5.7 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game in 2025-26.
Bennedict Mathurin’s signing not only gives the Pelicans another 3-point threat from the perimeter, but also a reliable scorer to complement Murphy III’s 3-and-D approach at the wing position. Murphy III’s still getting better while Williamson is entering his prime. In his first relatively healthy season in two years, Zion averaged 21.0 points on 60% shooting, 5.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.0 steals in 2025-26.
Then, there’s Murray, who’s entering what should be his first healthy season with the Pelicans after spending most of last season recovering from a ruptured right Achilles injury. Ahead of his third season in New Orleans, Murray averaged 16.7 points, 6.4 assists, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.6 steals in 14 games last season. He’ll look to build on that as the 20+ point, score-first guard hopes to return to form.
In a competitive Western Conference, the core’s supporting cast is led by sharpshooter Saddiq Bey, who averaged 17.7 points in his first season with the Pelicans, and Herbert Jones. New Orleans is in a position to secure a playoff spot. For the first time since the late 2010s, the Pelicans’ future is bright after the Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins, and Jrue Holiday era.
And if they want to attract free agents, they’ll have to prove themselves this upcoming season.
The Pelicans’ potential roster tweak after Bennedict Mathurin signing
The Pelicans’ deepest playoff runs in franchise history ended in the Western Conference semifinals in 2008 and 2018. With their core under contract for at least the next two seasons, the Pelicans could make one more trade before 2026-27, according to ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel.
“The logical move here would be for the Pelicans to dump Jordan Hawkins somewhere, which would instantly solve everything for them — cap problems & roster crunch. Seems like a matter of time before such a move becomes official,” Siegel reported.
Offloading Jordan Hawkins’ $7.02 million salary would get the Pelicans under the first tax apron ahead of next season. His expiring contract could yield a second-round pick or two, which would help replenish their assets. However, they did select two promising prospects one summer ago.
After selecting Jeremiah Fears with the seventh overall pick in the 2025 draft, the Pelicans traded their 2026 first-round pick for the rights to Derik Queen at No. 13. While some viewed trading two first-round picks, including 2025’s 23rd overall, as an oversell to land Queen, the Pelicans’ faith in the undersized center seemingly paid off after a productive rookie season.
He averaged 11.7 points on 47.3% shooting, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.0 steals for the Pelicans. Fears posted averages of 14.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.2 steals, as he and Queen are strong pillars for the franchise’s future. Both Pelicans prospects were named to the 2026 All-Rookie Second Team.
At the same time, Yves Missi is settling into his secondary role at center — he averaged 5.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks. The Pelicans will look to Fears and Queen to make another stride in their growth as part of the supporting cast to the Pelicans’ promising core, led by Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, Dejounte Murray, and Bennedict Mathurin.
Finding their defensive identity will be critical, and newly hired head coach Jamahl Mosley, whom the Magic relieved of his duties in May, is just the man for the job. Although Mosley’s time with the Magic ran its course, he’s proven he can mold young, promising talent and pair them with proven scorers to reach their full potential. Health, as with all teams, is critical. However, the Pelicans, for the first time in three years, have a clean slate.
And Mosley led the Magic to three consecutive playoff appearances, including last season, but failed to get them out of the first round each time. Ahead of his first season in NOLA, the Pelicans’ roster is in shape to compete for their first playoff spot in three seasons.
While the Pelicans will fall out of contention with top-tier teams such as the defending Western Conference champion Spurs, the 2025 champion Thunder, the Nuggets, and the Timberwolves, a Play-In tournament run is still feasible.
Related: Pelicans rumors: Did Bennedict Mathurin just leak another new jersey?