The Dallas Mavericks are currently sitting at 14th in the Western Conference, tied with the Minnesota Timberwolves at 11-25. Although that sounds horrible, the reality is the Mavericks are only four games out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the West.
So is a tank coming from the Dallas Mavericks? It’s a pretty tricky situation, especially considering Andrew Bogut is most likely looking towards his next contract, and Dirk Nowitzki is willing to come off the Mavs bench. The team has battled injuries to Dirk, Bogut, J.J. Barea and Devin Harris but they still are in contention for a playoff spot, along with the rest of the NBA’s West.
One player who has returned to his consistent playing ways is Wesley Matthews. In the summer of 2015, he signed a max contract with the Mavs coming off a season-ending Achilles injury. He spent last season attempting to get back to his old self but the season wasn’t that great for him. This year, it’s been a stark contrast.
All of his major statistics have improved, and the starting wingman looks great. But with a team teetering on the line of tanking and playoffs, you would expect there to be rumblings of teams wanting to look at Matthews.
ESPN’s Kevin Arnovitz on a recent episode of the ‘Lowe Post’ podcast said that the Mavs are looking to move Matthews for the right price. But his ESPN colleague Marc Stein says the Mavs are not shopping Matthews. It’s a claim also backed up by Mavs owner Mark Cuban.
Following from Stein.
I’m told Dallas’ Wesley Matthews, like Butler, is not in play. The prospect of an Andrew Bogut trade remains very real in Big D — an outcome even Bogut has acknowledged — but sources say that the Mavs are batting away pitches for Matthews as he continues an impressive recovery from an Achilles tear.
And from Mike Fisher of Dallas Basketball.com.
Do I think #Mavs have gotten a Matthews #NBAtrade inquiry? Sure. @mcuban response to me: 'We are not listening to any Wes trade offers.'
— mike fisher ? (@fishsports) January 7, 2017
If Wes is sticking around, the Mavericks are most likely going to send Bogut out of town, get something back from him and roll with a platoon combination of Salah Mejri and Dwight Powell at the center. But either way, Wes looks like the one that will stick around with Dallas.
