The Mavericks are open to listening to inquiries on Wesley Matthews in advance of the February 8 trade deadline, reports Marc Stein of The New York Times (Twitter link). However, according to Stein, the Mavs only want to move Matthews if they can get a first-round pick in return, since the club views him as “one of its culture-setters.”
Matthews, who signed with Dallas a a free agent in 2015, was a very effective three-and-D wing earlier in his career with the Trail Blazers, but has struggled to regain his Portland form since tearing his Achilles in his final year as a Blazer. In three seasons for the Mavericks, the 31-year-old has averaged 13.0 PPG with a .396 FG% and a .368 3PT% — all those numbers are below his career rates.
While Matthews’ production as a Mav has been modest, his salary is at an all-time high — he’ll earn $17.88MM this season, with a player option worth $18.62MM for 2018/19. The former Marquette standout has been a little more effective this year than he was in his first two seasons with Dallas, but he’s still a virtual lock to exercise that option in the summer.
Given his mediocre numbers and his exorbitant salary, Matthews is extremely unlikely to net the Mavs a first-round pick at this year’s deadline. That means that Matthews and his culture-setting presence in the locker room figure to remain in Dallas through at least the end of this season unless the team lowers its asking price.
Matthews could become a more intriguing trade chip during the 2018/19 league year, when he’s expected to be on an $18MM+ expiring contract.
not about to happen
Maybe they mean they’ll give a team a 1st round pick to rid themselves of his contract. That’s pretty much the market right now.
Agreed. No one is going to take on that contract without getting some picks.
Give me 17mil a year and I’ll set the culture however you want.
I want $500k a year for my job, but I doubt that will happen anytime soon. Unless there is a serious inflation problem.
I wouldn’t deal a 2nd round pick for him
As a mavs fan, they should start at a 1st rounder with the real goal of acquiring a new washing machine for him.
Pay me like he’s paid and I’ll play Migos Culture album all day. Hell i’ll even pay Migos and post Culture 2
Update Culture 2 came out I haven’t listened to it yet it probably sucks tbh Huncho Jack album was great though but that’s mostly because of Travis Scott but 21 Savage and Offset’s album was good too but maybe that was all because of Metro Boomin Offset shined but I lost respect for 21 Savage cause he got carried by a Migo Offset got bars though