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Wesley Matthews’ Future With The Dallas Mavericks

By Lance Roberson

Feb 7, 2017; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Wesley Matthews (23) walks off the court after being called for a foul during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at the American Airlines Center. The Trail Blazers defeat the Mavericks 114-113. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 7, 2017; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Wesley Matthews (23) walks off the court after being called for a foul during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at the American Airlines Center. The Trail Blazers defeat the Mavericks 114-113. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Wesley Matthews is the best Iron Man since Robert Downey Jr. His play is a positive, but his contract situation could be a problem for the Dallas Mavericks in the near future.

Wesley Matthews is one of the better two-way guards in the NBA and an even better locker room presence. I’m sure the Dallas Mavericks front office is relieved he is doing wonders on both sides of the floor this season. Despite the Achilles injury he suffered two seasons ago, Matthews’ True Shooting and three-point percentages have improved from last year’s campaign.

His play can go up and down, but the one variable that will remain the same is his contract. After this season Matthews will still have two years and $36.5 million left on his deal. That is a lot of money for a player who is on a losing team looking to rebuild. The Mavericks think highly of him (rightfully so) , but this is a business and they still have to consider that.

Per HoopsHype, Dirk Nowitzki has a team option worth $25 million in the summer of 2017. It will be interesting to see if the Mavericks honor that option or decline it for a lower price.

With that being said, newly acquired Nerlens Noel will be a restricted free agent this offseason. Depending on how he finishes the season, the Mavericks could keep him and quite possibly match a high offer. The Mavericks could potentially have three players getting paid at least $20 million. Matthews is not far behind in the salary race. That’s not necessarily an ideal situation to be in.

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    • ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported the salary cap for the 2017-18 season will be lower than expected. Wesley Matthews and the Dallas Mavericks seem to mesh well, but unfortunately due to his age, there is a possibility he could be dealt. There are a plethora of teams that are in need of what he brings on and off the court. Veterans that can shoot the ball well, and more importantly, defend at a high level, will always be a hot commodity in the NBA.

    One trade that comes to mind would see the Dallas Mavericks doing business with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Timberwolves are in desperate need for a veteran player. Tom Thibodeau is notorious for his demand on the defensive side of the ball. Ironically, per Basketball-Reference, the Timberwolves are ranked 24th in defensive rating. Matthews is essentially Thibodeau’s ideal player to help with his team’s defensive woes.

    This season Matthews has shown he can still play lockdown defense in clutch situations.

    Ricky Rubio for Wesley Matthews straight up is another trade that comes to mind.

    The Dallas Mavericks have been through the “point guard that can’t shoot” situation before. This time the player isn’t past his prime and actually plays defense. Rubio may not be anywhere near the shooter Matthews is, but he is one of the better defensive guards in the league. Age also plays a factor with Rubio only being 26. Per Spottrac, Rubio’s contract is the same length as Matthews’ except Rubio is owed $28.9 million without incentives.

    The Mavericks already have Yogi Ferrell, who just earned Rookie of the Month honors. Ferrell is a great story and a positive sign for a losing team, but Rubio is a point guard that can help the team on the defensive side of the ball.

    Per NBA.com, Rubio defends almost every play at a respectable level. Off screens is where he struggles the most, allowing a whopping 62.5 percent shooting. Other than that, Rubio can help a backcourt that isn’t known for defense and get younger at the same time.

    This is where the trade could draw a line between two different camps. You can’t make the age argument, with Rubio only being 26, but bringing up his limited offense is fair game. The trade is subjective; it just depends on how you like to look at the glass.

    Even if Matthews doesn’t get traded, his veteran presence is valued on a young Mavericks team.  He is a leader in the locker room that young players should look up to, especially with Dirk Nowitzki retiring in the near future. Matthews coming back from a potentially game-changing injury and still making positive contributions speaks volumes of who he is as a player.

    Next: 2017 NBA Trade Deadline: Grades For All 30 Teams

    The Dallas Mavericks took a shot at him for a reason, and keeping him on the payroll is not the worst-case scenario for the franchise. With his attitude and work ethic, he is a model player to help with the rebuilding process in Dallas.

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