Mavs Want First-Round Pick For Wes Matthews

The Mavericks are open to listening to inquiries on Wesley Matthews in advance of the February 8 trade deadline, reports Marc Stein of The New York Times (Twitter link). However, according to Stein, the Mavs only want to move Matthews if they can get a first-round pick in return, since the club views him as “one of its culture-setters.”

Matthews, who signed with Dallas a a free agent in 2015, was a very effective three-and-D wing earlier in his career with the Trail Blazers, but has struggled to regain his Portland form since tearing his Achilles in his final year as a Blazer. In three seasons for the Mavericks, the 31-year-old has averaged 13.0 PPG with a .396 FG% and a .368 3PT% — all those numbers are below his career rates.

While Matthews’ production as a Mav has been modest, his salary is at an all-time high — he’ll earn $17.88MM this season, with a player option worth $18.62MM for 2018/19. The former Marquette standout has been a little more effective this year than he was in his first two seasons with Dallas, but he’s still a virtual lock to exercise that option in the summer.

Given his mediocre numbers and his exorbitant salary, Matthews is extremely unlikely to net the Mavs a first-round pick at this year’s deadline. That means that Matthews and his culture-setting presence in the locker room figure to remain in Dallas through at least the end of this season unless the team lowers its asking price.

Matthews could become a more intriguing trade chip during the 2018/19 league year, when he’s expected to be on an $18MM+ expiring contract.

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