Dallas Mavericks: Grading The Offseason

A Max For Matthews

The Mavs would have been better off with DeAndre Jordan officially joining the team not only because he would’ve been a great defensive anchor, but also because the cap space needed to sign him would’ve prevented Dallas from overpaying for Wesley Matthews‘ services. Don’t forget, the original deal for Matthews was for four years and $57 million.

Now the Mavs are on the hook for four years and a massive $70 million contract for a 28-year-old player who’s coming off an unsettling Achilles injury.

Matthews has long been underrated and was heading for a nice payday with the Portland Trail Blazers this summer when his unfortunate injury struck, decimating whatever hopes of contending the Blazers ever had to begin with. LaMarcus Aldridge went his own way, the Blazers chose to start fresh and Matthews’ big payday was no longer a guarantee.

In their desperation, the Mavs sweetened the deal for their new 3-and-D wing, a player who should fit quite nicely alongside Chandler Parsons. But even with the NBA’s salary cap set to explode by $40 million over the next two years, that is a MASSIVE deal to offer a guy who has yet to prove he can come back from an injury that has altered the careers of many talented NBA players before him.

A 39.3 percent three-point shooter for his career, a healthy Matthews would’ve been a great addition to the Mavs…had they also locked in DeAndre Jordan. By failing to do so, Dallas committed a ton of money to a guy who is an excellent third option, but nowhere near good enough to be a team’s best player.

Given the history of Achilles injuries in the NBA, handing out that kind of max deal and just assuming or hoping that Matthews will be 100 percent next season is just too much of a risk to fully endorse, even if he was the best player Dallas acquired all summer.

Grade: C+

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