Mathurin Agrees to 2-Year, $16M Deal With Pelicans

Bennedict Mathurin has agreed to a two-year, $16 million contract with the New Orleans Pelicans, according to multiple reports on Wednesday, August 26, 2026. The deal, which includes a player option for the second year, was first reported by ESPN's Shams Charania. The agreement ends a long pursuit by the Pelicans, who have been interested in the 24-year-old wing for over a year. The contract structure was chosen by Mathurin, who reportedly prioritized flexibility and the earliest possible path to unrestricted free agency. He reportedly turned down longer-term offers that featured more total money in favor of this shorter deal.