NBA: Ranking all 30 starting shooting guards for 2017-18

27. Wesley Matthews, Dallas Mavericks

With Seth Curry sidelined and Rick Carlisle starting Dirk Nowitzki at the 5 in an uncomfortably obvious standoff with Nerlens Noel‘s people, Wesley Matthews will start 2017-18 playing the 3, flanked by Yogi Ferrell at the 2, Harrison Barnes as a small-ball 4 and Dennis Smith Jr. running the point.

However, that Dirk-at-the-5 lineup is not going to last long once the Dallas Mavericks start hemorrhaging points, and once Noel is inserted with the starters, count on West returning to his traditional position at the 2-spot. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean he’s going to be particularly good there either.

That Achilles injury has clearly changed Matthews, who averaged 13.5 points per game on dismal .393/.363/.816 shooting splits last year. He’ll show flashes of his old self from time to time, particularly on the defensive end, but even for a Mavs team with low expectations, Matthews’ contract is low-key one of the worst in the association.