DSJ Quick Take: Mavericks Show Sign-and-Trade Interest in Bennedict Mathurin
The Dallas Mavericks are among four teams that have expressed sign-and-trade interest in Clippers wing Bennedict Mathurin, per HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto. Marc Stein reported later Friday that a source says Dallas has not engaged at a serious level.
- Who else is pursuing Mathurin? The New Orleans Pelicans, Chicago Bulls, and Milwaukee Bucks have all expressed sign-and-trade interest, while the Clippers still want to re-sign him.
- What would Dallas have to do first? Scotto reported any pursuit would likely require a trade or buyout of Klay Thompson and his expiring $17.5 million contract, which would leave Max Christie as the only true shooting guard on the roster.
- What is Mathurin coming off? A career-high 17.6 points per game across stints with Indiana and Los Angeles, paired with career lows in field goal percentage, three-point percentage, and games played.
- How real is the Mavericks’ interest? Stein’s source says Dallas has not expressed interest at a serious level, which tracks with the team’s reported preference to trade Thompson rather than buy him out.
DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks have shown interest in sign-and-trade opportunities for Los Angeles Clippers wing Bennedict Mathurin, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
Los Angeles remains interested in re-signing the 24-year-old, while the New Orleans Pelicans, Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks are also intrigued by the idea of adding Mathurin.
Bennedict Mathurin’s 2025-26 Season
After being sent to the Clippers from the Indiana Pacers in February’s Ivica Zubac trade, Mathurin capped off a career-best season, averaging 17.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists during 2025-26.
Selected sixth overall out of the University of Arizona in the 2022 NBA Draft, Mathurin spent his first three-and-a-half pro seasons with Indiana. There, he proved himself as a microwave scorer, earning an All-Rookie nod in his first year.
Mathurin can score in bunches, as evidenced by his career-high-tying 38-point performance against the Denver Nuggets shortly after landing with Los Angeles.
His efficiency could stand to improve, though. Mathurin’s 43% shooting from the field and 31.5% clip from beyond the arc last season both marked career lows. Among players averaging at least 17 points per game over at least 40 games in 2025-26, Mathurin had the second-lowest field goal percentage.
LaMelo Ball was the only player to shoot worse. In 72 contests with the Charlotte Hornets, Ball shot 40.7% from the floor. He was subsequently traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves this offseason.
Mathurin appeared in just 54 games last season, which was also a career low. A big toe sprain knocked him out for an 11-game stretch early last season before a thumb sprain sidelined him for another 11 straight contests in January. Perhaps his efficiency will improve once he can settle into the rhythm of a healthier season.
The Dallas Mavericks’ Interest
Scotto reported that any pursuit of Mathurin would likely need either a trade or buyout of Klay Thompson, who’s on an expiring contract and will earn $17.5 million in 2026-27. Without Thompson, Max Christie would be the only remaining true shooting guard on the roster.
Dallas has indicated that it would prefer not to buy out Thompson, but trade him instead, with the Miami Heat looming as a potential destination.
The Mavericks’ hesitancy to buy out Thompson could be why Marc Stein of the Stein Line later reported that a source informed him that “Dallas has not expressed interest (in a Mathurin trade) at a serious level”.
That said, a move for Mathurin could bolster the Mavericks’ backcourt depth and give Dallas another scoring punch heading into the 2026-27 season.
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