The Dallas Mavericks signed Wesley Matthews to a four-year $70 million contract this offseason coming off a torn Achilles. Matthews is expected to make a full recovery but the fact that the Mavericks are paying him more than $17 million a year means they have to be careful with their investment and not push him too hard. For that reason it appears the Mavericks will bring Matthews along slowly this season and take the long-view according to Earl K. Sneed of Mavs.com.
Matthews was an undrafted free agent out of college in 2009 and has worked his way into becoming a very good NBA player. Matthews was in the midst of a tremendous year with the Portland Trail Blazers last season before he suffered the season-ending injury. In 60 games, all starts, Matthews was averaging 15.9 points per game on 45 percent shooting from the field and 39 percent from three. Matthews is a career 39 percent shooter from three point range.
Matthews is known in the NBA as one of the hardest workers in the league so there is little doubt he will return to form but the 28 year old guard believes he will come back stronger than ever.
"You know, [the Mavericks] believed in me, they signed me and they wanted me. They knew about my Achilles and they said, 'You're our guy,' so I'm going to prove them right," said Matthews.
While Matthews is eager to come back and make an impact right away head coach Rick Carlisle doesn't want him to rush it.
"You know, we've done research on it, we've talked to his people, and we talked to the doctor that did the surgery. Casey has all that information. He's definitely on track for a full recovery, but we're going to be erring on the side of being conservative and cautioned," said Carlisle.
Carlisle later went on to say that Matthews was signed to a four-year deal so they have to think long-term as well as short-term. This upcoming season Matthews will be tasked with replacing Monta Ellis who led the team with 18.9 points per game a season ago. While Matthews isn't as good of a scorer as Ellis he does more that could help the team as he is an excellent defender and perimeter jump shooter.
Not a lot is expected of the Mavericks this year after they lost out on DeAndre Jordan but they still have some really good players on their roster. With a starting lineup of Deron Williams, Matthews, Chandler Parson, Dirk Nowitzki, and Zaza Pachulia the Mavericks do have a chance to make some noise in the Western Conference if a few things fall their way. One thing that needs to fall their way is a D-Will resurgence, but the main thing may be a full recovery from Matthews and while that is possible the Mavericks and their training staff will be cautious with him in his first year back from the Achilles injury.
