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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.”
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.
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“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.”
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.”
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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.
Farbod Esnaashari: Bennedict Mathurin update from Ty Lue: He did a full 5-on-5 scrimmage and the Clippers are hopeful he'll return this week. Major piece for LAC.
Joey Linn: Bennedict Mathurin says he wants to be the best two-way player in the NBA. “I think my defense has been better. But I want more. I wanna be gritty. I don’t know how long I’ll get to be around these guys. I want to learn as much as I can. I ask KD a lot of questions. DJ and Kawhi. Things they see differently that I may not be able to see. I’m blessed, man. I’m grateful for sure… That two-way saying, it’s not something I’m just saying to be out there. I really wanna be one of the best — I wanna be the best two-way in the NBA. So you gotta start somewhere to get somewhere.” He’s asked Jeff Van Gundy to be hard on him so he can improve defensively.
