1. Wesley Matthews
When dreaming up the ideal role player to fit the modern NBA superstar, general managers really only look for two things: the size and strength to defend multiple positions on the perimeter, and the ability to space the court offensively with a respectable outside shot.
These are what’s known as a 3-and-D player, and Wesley Matthews looks to be one of the most coveted on the market.
Standing 6’5” and 220 pounds, Matthews can guard three and sometimes four positions. That gives teams the ability to switch pick-and-rolls when he’s in the game and feel confident in his ability to smother and overwhelm opposing players.
At the other end, whether it be standing in the corner or coming off screens, Matthews isn’t shy about bombing away from distance. The former Marquette alum has been an elite sharpshooter even since he entered the league back in 2009, with a career 38.2 3-point percentage, providing that sweet spacing coaches desperately crave.
Rumor has it the Indiana Pacers are already deemed the frontrunners for Matthews’ services, but that doesn’t mean other teams can’t swoop in and convince him to sign elsewhere. There isn’t a roster in the league he’d fail to find significant minutes on, and the allure of title contention could be all it takes.
Those who are looking to make some noise in the postseason should look to do nearly anything it takes to bring this guy in. There are only a handful of two-way players like Matthews in the NBA today, and even slimmer can be had at what will likely be a very cheap price.