Report: Mavericks would trade Matthews for 1st-round pick
If a prospective suitor wishes to add 31-year-old wing Wesley Matthews before the Feb. 8 trade deadline, he's going to cost a pretty penny.
The Dallas Mavericks would reportedly trade veteran Matthews for a first-round pick, league sources told The New York Times' Marc Stein. He adds that the asking price reflects how highly the Mavericks value his impact on the team's culture.
Matthews joined the Mavs for the 2015-16 campaign after breaking out as a key member of the Portland Trail Blazers for five seasons. Dallas lavished a four-year, $70-million contract on the prototypical 3-and-D shooting guard despite the fact that he tore his Achilles tendon just months before hitting free agency.
Since signing with Dallas, Matthews has averaged 13 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. However, the team is just 91-121 since his arrival as franchise icon Dirk Nowitzki continues inching toward the end of his playing career.
Matthews' performance on the defensive end this season has been less encouraging. The Mavs have allowed opponents to score a whopping 111.3 points per 100 possessions with Matthews on the floor; when he takes a seat, the team allows just 95.6 points per 100 possessions. It's hard to separate Matthews' individual impact from a lineup that features multiple turnstile defenders - from the ancient Nowitzki to greenhorn Dennis Smith Jr. - but the underlying numbers don't make a compelling case in his favor.
Matthews is owed $17.9 million this season and has a $18.6-million player option for 2018-19 that will almost certainly be exercised.