A four-team NBA trade proposal sending Bennedict Mathurin to the Chicago Bulls, Daniel Gafford to the Indiana Pacers and Dalen Terry to the Dallas Mavericks has been created.
NBA writer Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report created the following trade proposal between the Bulls, Pacers, Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans:
Chicago Bulls get: Bennedict Mathurin, Yves Missi, Kevon Looney
Indiana Pacers get: Daniel Gafford, Jevon Carter, $9.2 million trade exception
New Orleans Pelicans get: Jarace Walker, Dante Exum, $8 million trade exception, $3.4 million trade exception, 2026 protected first-rounder (from Bulls)
Dallas Mavericks get: Dalen Terry, $9 million trade exception, $2.3 million trade exception, 2026 protected first-rounder (from Portland Trail Blazers, via Bulls)
Here are the important trade notes for this NBA trade proposal created by Pincus:
“The 2026 first-rounder from Chicago to New Orleans would have top-5 protection this year, conveying unprotected in 2027. The Portland 2026 going to Dallas already has lottery protection through 2028, otherwise conveying as a second-rounder. To make roster room before the trade, the Bulls waive Julian Phillips. Chicago uses the expanded traded-player exception for Terry and Carter to acquire Mathurin and Looney. Missi is acquired via the preexisting Zach LaVine trade exception.
“The Pacers acquire Gafford via the Walker expanded traded player exception and Carter by the Tyrese Haliburton disabled player exception, generating a new trade exception for Mathurin’s full salary.
“New Orleans uses the preexisting Brandon Ingram trade exception on Walker; Exum is on a minimum contract, enabling the team to generate new trade exceptions for Missi and Looney.
“Finally, the Mavericks take in Terry for Gafford, and the difference in salary becomes a new trade exception (along with one for Exum’s salary). Depending on the likelihood that various Pelicans earn incentives over the second half of the year, Exum can be pulled from the deal (waived outright) or sent to another team willing to take his contract on (for cash considerations).”
The 2026 NBA trade deadline is February 5 at 3 p.m. ET. The Bulls, Pacers, Pelicans and Mavericks are expected to be active at the deadline.
Chicago, according to Pincus, is “looking to improve postseason chances this season while adding young, athletic players to complement its core duo of Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis.” The Bulls are currently in ninth place in the Eastern Conference standings.
The Pacers are in 14th place in the East, the Pelicans are in last place in the West and the Mavericks are in 12th place in the West.
Mathurin is averaging 17.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game this season for the Pacers. He’s making $9.2 million.
Gafford is averaging 7.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game for the Mavericks. He’s making $14.4 million.
Finally, Terry is averaging 3.1 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game for the Bulls. He’s making $5.4 million.