Haitian-Canadian star Bennedict Mathurin lands $16 Million deal with Pelicans

The Haitian-Canadian guard, Bennedict Mathurin, has agreed to a two-year, $16 million deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, ending nearly two months of restricted free agency, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday.

The deal, which includes a player option, effectively closes the door on a Los Angeles Clippers return for Mathurin. According to Charania, Mathurin’s representatives approached the Clippers about withdrawing his $8.8 million qualifying offer, turning it into a more secure path to New Orleans rather than risking a longer-term deal that would have given a team greater control over his future.

“Mathurin’s reps approached the Clippers about withdrawing his $8.8M qualifying offer, effectively turning the QO into a more favorable situation in New Orleans with added security,” Charania wrote. “Mathurin prioritized flexibility and the earliest path to unrestricted free agency next summer versus longer term offers with larger total commitments but greater team control.”

Mathurin, 23, was the No. 6 overall pick by the Indiana Pacers in the 2022 NBA Draft. The Haitian basketball player spent three seasons in Indiana before being included in the trade that brought center Ivica Zubac to the Pacers from the Clippers, a deal that reshaped both rosters. He appeared in just a handful of games for Los Angeles before hitting free agency this summer.

The Pelicans, who had pursued Mathurin for more than a year according to Charania’s report, add a proven scorer to a young core that includes Dejounte Murray, Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey and Trey Murphy III.

Bennedict Mathurin remains one of a handful of NBA players of Haitian descent, alongside players such as Luguentz Dort. His move to New Orleans adds another chapter to a career that began with high expectations in Indiana and now continues with a Pelicans team looking to build around younger talent heading into the new season.