The free agency climate is much different than it was two or three years ago. A player of Wes Matthews caliber (coming off of a torn Achilles no less), which is a fifth starter or bench wing player, would never sign a four-year, $70 million contract in 2018.
This is exactly the reason that Matthews has decided to opt into the final year and $18.6 million of his contract for the 2018-19 season.
From Dwain Price of the Mavericks website:
“He said he will pick up that option and return and play next season with the Mavs.
“Obviously that’s something that hasn’t been on my mind,” Matthews said. “That’s what you have an agent for and agencies for.
“Like I said, I don’t plan on being anywhere else. And now it’s just focusing on getting back healthy, which I am now, and getting on this court.”
Matthews missed the final 16 games of the season with a stress fracture in his right fibula.
Despite not being quite the player or athlete that he was before the Achilles injury, he is still a solid defensive player and shot 38% from three-point range this season while being a good veteran influence for rookie point guard Dennis Smith.
Matthews could become an attractive expiring contract around the trade deadline for a team willing to unload an asset for cap relief or a team trying to acquire more veteran depth for a playoff run.
