Pelicans still need cost-cutting move before signing Bennedict Mathurin

The Pelicans agreed to sign Bennedict Mathurin nearly two weeks ago. Now they just need enough room to actually do it.

Mathurin agreed to a two-year, $16 million contract with New Orleans on Aug. 26, but the deal still has not been finalized because of the Pelicans’ salary-cap situation.

As Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors explained, Mathurin’s contract will come out of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception. That will hard-cap New Orleans at the first tax apron.

The problem? The Pelicans would currently exceed that line once Mathurin’s deal is added. So, yes, another move is coming.

We noted at Hoops Wire when the agreement was first reported that New Orleans was expected to make a corresponding transaction, with Sept. 8 mentioned as a date to watch.

The Pelicans are also only about $5.8 million below the luxury-tax line, which gives them another reason to trim salary before making Mathurin official.

Jordan Poole‘s name has surfaced in trade chatter, though this doesn’t necessarily require anything that dramatic.

Mathurin, 24, averaged 17.5 points last season and should give New Orleans another aggressive scorer alongside Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III and Dejounte Murray. At least, he will once they figure out where to put him.

The agreement is done. The bookkeeping apparently isn’t.