Wesley Matthews intends to pick up the player option on the final year of his contract, writes Dwain Price of Mavs.com. Doing so would keep Matthews under Mavericks control for one more season, putting him on track to reach unrestricted free agency in 2019.
[RELATED: NBA Player Option Decisions for 2018/19]
According to comments relayed by Price and Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News, Matthews didn’t explicitly say he’ll pick up that option, but he talked repeatedly about his plans to remain in Dallas, and Price indicates that he’ll opt into his deal to make that happen.
“I don’t really know,” Matthews said when he was asked about the deadline for his player option decision, per Sefko. “I guess I ought to check on that. But I don’t plan on being anywhere else.”
Matthews, 31, appeared in 63 games for the Mavs in 2017/18, averaging 12.7 PPG, 3.1 RPG, and 2.7 APG with a .406/.381/.822 shooting line. His season was cut short by a fractured fibula — he sustained the injury on March 10 and didn’t return before season’s end. However, Matthews confirmed over the weekend that he has been medically cleared to resume full basketball activities, joking that he was about to “go try and find a pickup game.”
If and when Matthews formally exercises his option, he’ll be on Dallas’ books for $18,622,514 next season. That would make him the team’s second-highest player behind Harrison Barnes, assuming the Mavs don’t make a bigger splash in free agency or on the trade market.
Well da he’d be stupid if he didn’t
Was never an option, always a guarantee. The moment they gave a guy with a torn achillies that contract lol.
He will make more than Beltre and all but 2 Rangers (Hamels & Choo). He will also make more than any Dallas Cowboys player. That is pretty crazy considering his production….