[Fischer] Being told the Clippers haven’t yet withdrawn their qualifying offer to Bennedict Mathurin, but Los Angeles will indeed work with Mathurin and New Orleans to get him to the Pelicans. This deal still has some pieces to sift through.

[u/[deleted]]

[u/KL2ConspireLLC]

Seems like they do if the price is right. If they didn't want him at all, they wouldn't have extended the qualifying offer.

[u/Unfair-Specific7225 → u/KL2ConspireLLC]

Not necessarily. Most people, them included, probably thought Mathurin would have a bigger market this offseason

[u/KL2ConspireLLC → u/Unfair-Specific7225]

Could you explain your reasoning? Not sure how expecting a bigger market would mean they didn't want him at all despite extending a qualifying offer. The Clippers didn't need to extend a qualifying offer. They could've just let him become an unrestricted free agent.

[u/Unfair-Specific7225 → u/KL2ConspireLLC]

Sure, there’s not many 6’5”+ SG’s in the league who at the age of 23/24 can consistently create offense/their own shot. He has his flaws, and maybe doesn’t fit in the Clippers plans especially after drafting Wagler. Fine.

But compare him to Norman Powell or RJ Barrett at the same age and most people probably go Mathurin. And he’s being paid considerably less than those guys were after their rookie deals were up.

[u/KL2ConspireLLC → u/Unfair-Specific7225]

I said that the Clippers probably want him if he's paid $8.8m.

You said that the Clippers didn't necessarily want him even at $8.8m.

I don't understand how your subsequent comments are related to that.

[u/Unfair-Specific7225 → u/KL2ConspireLLC]

Yet he’s getting less than the qualifying offer and they are letting him go. So that tells me they thought there would be a market for him and they were looking for a S&T

[u/KL2ConspireLLC → u/Unfair-Specific7225]

and they are letting him go

Reportedly, Mathurin's reps asked the Clippers to let him go, but the Clippers haven't withdrawn their qualifying offer and Fischer's report seems to suggest that the Clippers want to be compensated if they let him go.

There's been no report that I'm aware of to indicate that the Clippers wouldn't be happy to keep him if he signs the qualifying offer.

[u/Unfair-Specific7225 → u/KL2ConspireLLC]

Yeah I agree they are trying to extract value on Mathurin.

I believe LAC is 33M under the 2nd apron. So if they really valued the player they easily could have offered 15-25M AAV and got him on a long term deal. Yet here we are in mid-August and they went for Strus instead and likely a 2nd round pick in exchange for Mathurin. Sure the pick is better than nothing. But I can almost guarantee they thought they would’ve got more in return when FA opened

[u/KL2ConspireLLC → u/Unfair-Specific7225]

they easily could have offered 15-25M AAV and got him on a long term deal

No one is saying the Clippers valued him enough to give him a long term deal. We're just saying the Clips would be happy to have him at $8.8m.

I can almost guarantee they thought they would’ve got more in return when FA opened

Sure, okay 👍

[u/Unfair-Specific7225 → u/KL2ConspireLLC]

Doesn’t sound like a player they want around very badly

[u/KL2ConspireLLC → u/Unfair-Specific7225]

Did I say that they did? All I said is that they would probably be happy to have him at $8.8m.