Chicago Bulls enter race for Bennedict Mathurin, Clippers hold key to potential deal
The Chicago Bulls have emerged as a new candidate to acquire Bennedict Mathurin, the 24-year-old Canadian guard and wing who became a restricted free agent of the Los Angeles Clippers after the expiration of his rookie contract. According to available information published on July 29, 2026, Chicago has been identified as the second interested club alongside the New Orleans Pelicans, who have been in contact with Mathurin's representatives in recent days. Initial reports from The Stein Line referred to the Pelicans and one other unnamed suitor, so the Bulls' interest should for now be viewed as market information rather than confirmation that negotiations have entered their final stage. None of the clubs involved has officially announced that it is negotiating a contract or trade. Nevertheless, the very fact that Mathurin's name is once again being linked with Chicago fits the direction in which the Bulls are trying to reshape the team around younger, athletic players with developmental potential.
The situation is further complicated by Mathurin's status as a restricted free agent. At the end of June, the Clippers extended him a qualifying offer worth approximately $8.77 million, retaining the right to match any offer he signs with another club. This means that interest from the Bulls or Pelicans alone is not enough for him to change teams. Los Angeles can bring Mathurin back under the terms of another team's offer or agree with the player and the interested club on a sign-and-trade, meaning a contract signing immediately followed by a trade. According to earlier reports from HoopsHype and The Stein Line, the Clippers want to keep him, but they have not completely closed the door on his departure if they receive a package in return that suits their sporting and financial plans.
Chicago again monitoring player it considered before February deadline
The Bulls being linked with Mathurin is not entirely new. Chicago was also interested in him before the February 2026 trade deadline, while the Canadian was still a member of the Indiana Pacers. At the time, reports appeared in the American media that the Bulls were seeking younger and physically strong players who could attack the rim, play at a high pace and fit alongside Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis. No agreement was reached, and on February 5 Indiana sent Mathurin to Los Angeles in a major trade for center Ivica Zubac and Kobe Brown. Along with Mathurin, the Clippers received Isaiah Jackson and a package of NBA draft picks, showing that they viewed him at the time as an important part of the return for one of their most valuable veterans.
Several months later, the circumstances are different. Chicago finished the 2025/26 season with a 31-51 record and in 12th place in the Eastern Conference, while Basketball Reference data show that the team played at the second-fastest pace in the league but finished only 23rd in offensive rating and 22nd in defensive rating. During the summer, the Bulls added experienced scorer Norman Powell and center Nic Claxton, while selecting tall wing Caleb Wilson with the fourth pick in the draft. Alongside Giddey, Buzelis, Isaac Okoro, Patrick Williams, Rob Dillingham and other younger players, the roster now contains more developmental options than it did a year ago. Acquiring Mathurin would therefore not merely fill a gap, but would represent a decision to invest further in individual shot creation and the talent of a player who has not yet entered his best basketball years.
Mathurin could fit into the Bulls' fast-paced system because of his aggressiveness in transition, strength on drives and ability to draw free throws. In 26 appearances for the Clippers after the trade, he averaged 17.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 28 minutes, even though he started only one game. His production was very similar to his performance during the first part of the season in Indiana, where he recorded 17.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 28 games. He finished the season with a career-best average of 17.6 points, confirming that he can consistently create offensive value without serving as the primary playmaker. For the Bulls, who are looking for more players capable of reaching the rim on their own or drawing a foul when the offense slows down, that profile has clear appeal.
Performance with Clippers showed both potential and risks
Mathurin's time in Los Angeles did not, however, eliminate the questions that have followed him since he entered the NBA. According to data published by Hoops Rumors, after the trade he made only 20.7 percent of his three-pointers on 3.2 attempts per game. In Indiana during the same part of the season, he was at 37.2 percent on 5.6 attempts, so the difference between the two stretches was pronounced. The shooting decline can partly be explained by a midseason change in system, role and teammates, but it represents an important evaluation factor for a club considering a multiyear contract. His offensive impact currently relies more on drives, contact and free throws than on consistently spacing the floor.
At the same time, his free-throw numbers show why Mathurin remains intriguing. In a Clippers uniform, he attempted more than seven per game and converted 85.8 percent, a highly effective combination of volume and accuracy. That ability can help an offense during stretches when there are no easy transition shots and the defense forces the team into one-on-one play. Mathurin has enough physical strength to finish through contact and frequently attacks before the defense is fully set. At his best, he can be a powerful secondary scorer alongside a lead creator, and Giddey's passing and court vision in particular could create additional opportunities for his cuts and drives toward the basket.
The biggest questions remain defense, decision-making and shooting consistency. Mathurin possesses the size and athleticism to defend several perimeter positions, but he has not yet built a reputation as a reliable defender over the course of an entire season. Offensively, he sometimes holds the ball too long or attacks without enough space, which can reduce the fluidity of a lineup. The Bulls already have several players who need development with the ball in their hands, so the coaching staff would have to establish a clear hierarchy and allocation of minutes. With Powell, Okoro, Buzelis, Wilson and Williams on the team, there is also considerable competition at the guard and wing positions, which means that any potential deal would probably involve additional roster changes.
Restricted free agency gives Clippers control
NBA restricted free-agency rules give the previous club a strong negotiating position. As the NBA's official guide explains, a qualifying offer allows the player to accept a one-year guaranteed contract, while simultaneously giving his club the right of first refusal on another team's offer. If Mathurin signs an offer sheet with the Bulls, the Clippers can match all contractual terms and retain him. If Los Angeles determines that the amount is too high or that the contract does not fit its future salary structure, it can let him leave without compensation. The third possibility is a sign-and-trade, which requires an agreement among the player, the Clippers and the new team.
For Chicago, that third option is probably more realistic than a straightforward offer. Publicly available salary-cap estimates show that the Bulls are close to the upper limit of the basic cap after their summer moves, although they remain well below the luxury-tax threshold. That leaves them with some flexibility for trades, but not unlimited room for a multiyear contract without sending salary in the opposite direction. In such a scenario, Mathurin's new salary, the sign-and-trade rules and what the Clippers would demand as compensation would all have to be aligned. It is not yet known whether the clubs have discussed specific names or draft picks, and there is no confirmation that Mathurin has agreed to financial terms with Chicago.
Los Angeles also has no reason to rush. Mathurin is young, productive and was already an important part of the valuable package received for Zubac. If the Clippers believe his shooting can return to the level he displayed in Indiana, keeping him could give them a scorer entering his fifth NBA season who still has room to improve. On the other hand, their willingness to consider a sign-and-trade suggests that they have not decided in advance to match every amount. The club may be assessing how much it is willing to pay long term for a player whose offensive production is clear, but whose defensive contribution and outside shooting still fluctuate.
Pelicans remain serious competitor, but without guarantee of deal
New Orleans is currently the only club whose interest has been confirmed multiple times in reports from national NBA insiders. Marc Stein reported that the Pelicans recently spoke with Mathurin's representatives, while Jake Fischer stated that New Orleans was a serious candidate even before his February trade from Indiana. The Pelicans finished the season near the bottom of the Western Conference and are also trying to make the team younger, so Mathurin's profile appeals to them for reasons similar to Chicago's. His age, ability to create points independently and experience in multiple roles make him a potential long-term part of the core, rather than merely a short-term reinforcement.
However, interest does not mean that the offer is strong enough to change the Clippers' position. New Orleans must resolve its own financial and personnel matters, while Los Angeles may seek young players, future picks or a combination of assets that preserves the value of the original trade with the Pacers. Chicago is in a similar position: it has several young players and future picks, but has no reason to overpay for Mathurin merely because competition exists. For both franchises, the most important task will be determining his long-term price and role, especially because the new contract would cover the period in which he should be entering the prime of his career.
Mathurin, for his part, has several possible paths. He can reach a new multiyear agreement with the Clippers, sign another club's offer and await Los Angeles' decision, participate in an agreed sign-and-trade or accept the qualifying offer for one season. The final option would carry the risk of injury and delay long-term security, but it would allow him to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. His negotiating situation is therefore more complicated than an ordinary race in which the club offering the largest amount wins. Playing time, projected role, contract length, next summer's market and the Clippers' willingness to cooperate all matter.
What acquiring Mathurin would mean for Bulls' direction
For Chicago, Mathurin's potential arrival would be another sign that the club is trying to accelerate its rebuild without completely abandoning competitiveness. Powell provides experience and immediate offensive quality, Claxton provides rim protection and defensive mobility, while Wilson and Buzelis represent investments in a high developmental ceiling. Mathurin would fall between those groups: he is already a proven NBA scorer, but he is young enough for his next contract to encompass the best years of his career. That combination usually carries high market value, especially for teams that do not yet have a clearly defined first scoring option for the future.
At the same time, the move would raise questions about the distribution of the ball and minutes. Giddey is most effective when he organizes the offense, Powell is a veteran who has averaged more than 20 points per game in each of the last two seasons, while Buzelis and Wilson need developmental minutes and offensive responsibility. Mathurin would not arrive merely as a shooter standing in the corner, but as a player whose value is highest when he attacks off the dribble and frequently reaches the free-throw line. The Bulls would therefore have to prove that they can combine several creators without losing defensive balance. Otherwise, the added talent could create overlap instead of the expected progress.
For now, the most important thing is to distinguish interest from a completed deal. According to available reports, Chicago has entered the group of clubs monitoring Mathurin's situation, New Orleans has already communicated with his camp, and the Clippers retain ultimate control because of their right to match an offer. There is no official confirmation that an offer has been submitted, a trade agreed upon or a compensation package determined. The next concrete step could be an offer sheet, direct sign-and-trade negotiations or a new contract with Los Angeles. Until one of those things happens, Mathurin remains one of the most intriguing young players left on the market, and the Bulls remain one of the clubs whose move could change the balance of power in the negotiations.
Sources:
- Hoops Rumors – report on the New Orleans Pelicans' interest, an unnamed second candidate, Mathurin's qualifying offer and his statistics after joining the Clippers (link)
- Yahoo Sports / HoopsHype – information about the Clippers' desire to retain Mathurin and their openness to a sign-and-trade agreement (link)
- NBA.com – official explanation of qualifying offers and restricted free-agency rules (link)
- Associated Press – details of the February trade between the Indiana Pacers and Los Angeles Clippers in which Mathurin changed teams (link)
- Basketball Reference – Chicago Bulls' performance in the 2025/26 season, win-loss record and offensive, defensive and pace indicators (link)
- Chicago Bulls / NBA.com – official announcement of Norman Powell's signing (link)
- Chicago Bulls / NBA.com – official announcement of Caleb Wilson's selection with the fourth pick in the 2026 NBA draft (link)
- Chicago Bulls / NBA.com – official confirmation of the trade in which Chicago acquired Nic Claxton (link)