Should the Mavericks Be Entertaining Wes Matthews Trades?

After recent news from Mark Cuban that the Dallas Mavericks won’t be looking for any big fish this summer and are in a bit of a tanking situation, is it time for the Mavs to consider moving a veteran with some value like Wesley Matthews?

The NBA Trade Deadline is in just a few short days and Dallas Mavericks fans everywhere have been checking Twitter, Google, ESPN, and of course, The Smoking Cuban, waiting for any trade news to drop. So far, that news has been anything but expected as Dallas does not appear poised to make any big moves this year.

Recent news tells us that Mark Cuban is poised to take on big contracts from teams that made mistakes, as long as it is compensated with draft picks. Clearly Cuban is ready to start the rebuilding process, and the team that we have right now might not need too many years to get back to it.

With Dirk on his way out and a team really starting to embrace the youth movement, Dallas has a few choices on what they can do. Obviously Deron Williams, Andrew Bogut, and even Devin Harris have been rumored to be on the trading block, but what about another veteran?

Wesley Matthews is 30 years old, which many believe to be right in the prime of an NBA career. Unfortunately, a horrible Achilles tear set Wes back a little bit and he is still not quite the player that he once was. That is not to say he does not have any value though.

Many teams would undoubtedly be interested in the services of a player like Wesley Matthews who, despite losing a bit of lateral quickness after the injury, is still a premier defender in the league. That along with his excellent three-point shooting this season make him a real hot commodity.

Dallas Mavericks

Then, there is his contract. Although Matthews is technically on a max deal, it was signed before the new max deals were in place. That being said, he is being paid between $17 and $18.6 million per year until the 2018-19 season. That is a lot of money, but he is only under contract until he is 32 years old, still very much in the prime years.

Don’t be fooled by anything I am saying here, I would very much prefer Matthews to stay. His attitude, drive, and determination are things the Mavericks have always needed and the culture built around Dirk Nowitzki, Harrison Barnes, and Matthews is one that Dallas hasn’t had since the title run.

Wesley Matthews does bring a lot of trade value with him though. Many teams would love to have him on their roster and would be an instant upgrade at the 2 or 3 for a healthy portion of teams. Rumors have been flying around for teams to at least call the Mavs and offer something for the sharpshooter.

And I really think that Dallas should be answering those calls. That doesn’t mean we should accept them or do anything too drastic, but if we can get good draft compensation and a young player to develop during this (hopefully short) rebuild, I think the Mavs should at least hear them out.

Next: NBA Trade Deadline: Four Contracts the Dallas Mavericks Could Absorb

Wes has had a hot hand over the last few months and teams are going to be interested in seeing those three’s drop in for their own team instead of the opponent. If the price is right, Dallas may be looking at letting go one of their best for the future of the franchise.