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Josh Lewenberg: To sum up NBAers in for Canada this summer: SGA, NAW, Barrett, Brooks, Dort, Nembhard bros, Mathurin, Olynyk, George, Miller Out this summer but in for this cycle: Edey, Powell Didn’t commit: Murray, Sharpe, Wiggins Committed but not selected: Lawson, Banton, Houstan, Prosper
That plan probably changed at the trade deadline. Their acquisition of Darius Garland, while giving them a better player than one they could realistically have signed in free agency, also wiped out a meaningful chunk of their cap space. They can now generate up to $30 million, but doing so would also require renouncing the cap holds for all of their free agents. Not only would they lose several players on team options to access that room, but they would also be sacrificing the Bird rights to Bennedict Mathurin and John Collins.
Law Murray: The Pacers aren't done paying for Zubac btw. The LA Clippers will also receive the 2028 second round Pacers pick AND The 2029 Pacers first round pick. Bennedict Mathurin is a restricted free agent and Isaiah Jackson is under contract through 2028
Collins was a great locker-room fit, but the Clippers will have competition for his services if he doesn’t reach an extension before unrestricted free agency. The many adjustments in his role, from position to whether he started, will be something that needs to be considered. Mathurin wants to start, but the Clippers have all the leverage and won’t need to promise anything to a player the Pacers chose not to extend before this season despite being the sixth pick in the 2022 draft. Beal is expected back next season after hip surgery, which will likely require picking up a player option he would have ideally declined if he were healthy. Lopez, Batum and Bogdanović are all great veteran role players, but they all have team options that the Clippers could decline for maximum flexibility. Jones and Dunn are extension eligible. Young rotation players like Miller and Sanders are also on team options, which the Clippers could pick up as part of team-friendly deals.
Joey Linn: Bennedict Mathurin on his recent struggles: “Trying to figure it out.” Are teams guarding him differently? “I wouldn’t say that.”
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Joey Linn: Clippers beat the Bucks 127-113 and win their 5th straight game. Kawhi Leonard had 20 PTS in 23 minutes. Darius Garland added 15 PTS and 11 AST. John Collins with 22 PTS. Bennedict Mathurin led in scoring with 28 PTS off the bench. LA is 39-36. Portland at home on Tuesday.
Tony East: "Benn (Mathurin)'s found a home there. He's playing great," Rick Carlisle said. He thought the reception to him and Isaiah Jackson was heartwarming. "We just weren't going to be able to make it work with Benn contractually," he adds. A big note at the end.
Scott Agness: Highlight video to celebrate Pacers draft picks Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson now airing at The Fieldhouse during the first timeout. They were traded to the Clippers for Zubac and Brown.
“They understand he’s a Hall of Famer,” Clippers guard Kris Dunn told The Athletic of Kawhi Leonard. “The first thing (Leonard) told (Mathurin) was, ‘Yo, you’re good! This is part of your growth.’ And to see something like that from a Hall of Famer, somebody who’s playing at an exceptional level this year, to be able to give Benn that type of confidence to let him know don’t worry about it, that shot is gonna come again, you’ll be prepared … I thought it was major. “And that shows the step right there. Like, OK, he’s taking another step in the leadership role.”
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APHoops: Offers for Bennedict Mathurin could hover around the $15.1M range, but “it wouldn’t be surprising” if the Clippers retain him for even less if the restricted free agent market for guards mirrors last Summer, per @YossiGozlan. “Offers for Mathurin could start at roughly the $15 million mid-level exception, since that’s what most teams will be able to offer him this offseason. If offers top out in that range, the Clippers could get him at slightly above that amount to beat them. It’s worth noting that restricted free agency was rough on guards last offseason. It wouldn’t be surprising if the Clippers retain him for even less if teams are dissuaded from making him offers.”
Bennedict Mathurin: Bennedict Mathurin, on playing in Indiana on Friday for first time since trade: “Indiana breathes basketball. Everybody knows that and I don’t really know what to expect. ... At the end of the day, Indiana drafted me. It’s still my second home to this day.”
Justin Russo: Bennedict Mathurin had missed the last four games with a toe injury. He is not on the injury report and will return. John Collins missed yesterday's game with an ankle injury. He will also return. Clippers, potentially, could be healthy (for their standards) for tomorrow's game.
