Wesley Matthews
https://twitter.com/WenzlNBA/status/856985020321243136
Matthews has just a year left on his contract before a player option which, given the cap spike, he’ll likely take. He was the Mavericks’ marquee signing two summers ago, but their plan then was to reboot around Matthews, Dirk Nowitzki and DeAndre Jordan. One pseudo-kidnapping later, it went up in flames.
The Mavs have yet to tear down in the Dirk-era, but Nowitzki will get $25 million next season if Dallas exercises a club option (they likely will) and from there, likely retire. Dallas won just 33 games this seasonm and though there were some triumphs — finding Yogi Ferrell on a 10-day contract and getting Seth Curry on a bargain deal — the Mavs don’t have enough assets to know what their future looks like post-Dirk.
Dealing Matthews — now or before next year’s trade deadline — would be the first step to that. Given his player option and the inflated cap, salary wouldn’t be a massive issue, and every team needs a 3 and D wing. Matthews shot 37.6 percent on catch and shoot threes last season and would do even better with a more threatening point guard drawing help. And while he isn’t a lockdown defender, Matthews can contribute there as well.
He won’t obtain a superstar haul, but Matthews is a good place for Dallas to start its inevitable rebuild. It could easily net a first rounder, maybe more from the right team. Matthews has an injury history, but he’s played 151 games over the past two seasons and would be a one-year rental. A contender can afford to take that risk and take on Matthews’ salary for a year. Maybe it won’t be as soon as the draft, but someone will bite.