Bulls Join Pelicans As Reported Suitor For Bennedict Mathurin

Bennedict Mathurin's restricted free agency market has another team in it.

Marc Stein reported that the Chicago Bulls are a current suitor for Mathurin, joining the New Orleans Pelicans in the chase for the LA Clippers swingman. Stein had already reported that New Orleans renewed its in-season interest by pursuing Mathurin in restricted free agency.

The Clippers still control the board because Mathurin is restricted. Any offer sheet can be matched, and that gives LA leverage whether it wants to keep him or use the market to shape a sign-and-trade conversation.

The Pelicans' path is tied to their own payroll cleanup. Stein previously reported on July 23 that New Orleans has been trying to shed Jordan Hawkins' contract in a trade to move farther away from the first apron. If the Pelicans can create that room, one option would be using a healthy portion of the midlevel exception to build an offer sheet for Mathurin.

Chicago's interest adds pressure and makes this less of a one-team waiting game. Mathurin does not need a massive market for this to get complicated. He needs one or two teams willing to test how committed the Clippers really are.