Bennedict Mathurin, Pelicans reportedly agree to two-year, $16 million contract

Then came this report Wednesday: Mathurin and the Pelicans reached agreement on a two-year, $16 million offer, with the second year of that a player option, a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN .

For that to happen, the Clippers and Mathurin have to agree to rescind his $8.8 million qualifying offer, which would make him an unrestricted free agent. The official deadline for a team to rescind that offer unilaterally is July 13, but it can still do it throughout the offseason if the team and player agree. That has yet to officially happen, but the sides are working toward it, reports NBA insider Jake Fischer.

Mathurin will agree because it is a great deal for him, despite reportedly discussing longer-term offers with other teams that would have been worth more money. While Mathurin believes he should make more, this contract gets him back on the free agent market as soon as next summer if he wants, but it gives him the security of a second year. He sees that as his best scenario.