Lakers named landing spot for $29 million ex-Pacers playoff hero
· Yahoo Sports
Lakers named landing spot for $29 million ex-Pacers playoff hero originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Adding a wiry, battle-tested second-unit wing contributor would make perfect sense for the Los Angeles Lakers, as it would allow them to turn to their bench for instant offense more frequently.
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An ex-Indiana Pacers playoff hero is ready to hit free agency after finishing the 2025-26 season with the Los Angeles Clippers, and Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus is under the impression that the Lakers could soon get involved.
“Others, like Kelly Oubre Jr., Mitchell Robinson, Marcus Smart, Nikola Vučević, Keon Ellis, Sandro Mamukelashvili, John Collins, Jose Alvarado, and many more, face contract decisions,” Pincus wrote last Saturday.
“The Boston Celtics may be the most likely to move on from Vučević, while the surging New York Knicks would love to bring back Robinson and Alvarado as important pieces on a championship roster. Restricted free agency is also difficult to judge, as the flight risk depends entirely on the teams holding the right of first refusal.”
“Some of the more prominent restricted players include Bennedict Mathurin, Jalen Duren, Peyton Watson, Walker Kessler, Tari Eason, and Mark Williams. A large offer sheet from the Lakers, Bulls, or Nets could lead to difficult decisions.”
Mathurin’s playing time during the 2025 postseason was erratic, but the Arizona product was electric in spurts. Mathurin’s 20-point outing against the New York Knicks in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals prevented the three-time NBA champions from tying the series at two games apiece.
Additionally, the 23-year-old’s 27-point explosion vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals helped the Pacers avoid an early 2-1 series hole (they went on to lose the series in seven games, though).
Mathurin found himself in a rebuilding situation this season, though, as Tyrese Haliburton’s Achilles recovery, as well as Myles Turner’s offseason departure, led to a dismal 19-63 campaign. Midway through the season, though, the Pacers traded Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, two first-round picks, and a second-round pick to the Clippers for Ivica Zubac and Kobe Brown.
The 6-foot-5 wing contributed 17.4 points per game on 42.6% from the field and 20.7% from beyond the arc in 26 contests with the Clippers. Of course, Mathurin would have to shoot the ball better from the perimeter to earn significant minutes in JJ Redick’s system.
Still, his resume makes him an intriguing target for Los Angeles.
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