What's Going On With Bennedict Mathurin?
ClutchPoints NBA Insiders Tomer Azarly and Brett Siegel discuss the latest on restricted free agent Bennedict Mathurin and the LA Clippers plans as negotiations continue.
Video Transcript
The LA Clippers are still weighing their decisions with restricted free agent, Benedikt Mathurin.
Mathurin had a strong end to the season after being traded from the Indiana Pacers to Los Angeles, but dealt with a number of injuries that limited him along the way.
The Clippers do have interest in retaining Benedikt Mathurin, but for the right price.
Brett, what's the latest on the Clippers negotiations with Mathurin?
Although the Clippers do have interest in bringing Mathurin back, he's in a pecking order that will be determined by the domino effect, starting with Kawhi Leonard and that trade being finalized to the Raptors.
The Clippers and Raptors alike cannot make any moves until that trade is finalized, and it is currently being held up by his investigation with the league.
The second thing in order is whether or not the Clippers can get a sign-and-trade done for Peyton Watson, a restricted free agent from the Denver Nuggets, who the Clippers do have sign-and-trade interest in.
If they are able to land Watson, then Benedikt Mathurin likely would not be back with the Clippers simply because of a conflict of positions between him and Watson.
And then the third order of business is figuring out other sign-and-trade scenarios that are out there for Benedikt Mathurin.
Is there another team out there that could give the Clippers exactly what they need, whether that's a front court upgrade, another guard, future draft capital, something for Benedikt Mathurin?
There are suitors out there, but this decision for the Clippers comes down to the other factors that are currently in front of Mathurin.
