Wesley Matthews agrees to 4-year deal with Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks have reached a verbal agreement with free agent shooting guard Wesley Matthews on a four-year deal, a person with knowledge of the decision told USA TODAY Sports.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal can't be formalized until the free agency moratorium lifts on July 9.

Matthews was seriously considering the Sacramento Kings, who met with him on Thursday and offered a four-year deal worth approximately $65 million.

Because the Mavericks are still pursuing free agent big men like LaMarcus Aldridge and DeAndre Jordan, Matthews' salary has not yet been finalized. Clearly, however, he felt good enough about the Dallas situation to leave some staggering money on the table in Sacramento.

As USA TODAY Sports reported on June 23, Matthews – whose 2014-15 season was ended so abruptly when he tore his Achilles tendon in a game against the Dallas Mavericks on March 5 – entered free agency hoping for a deal that paid him approximately $15 million annually.

The desire was largely ridiculed, with executives the league over shaking their heads at the notion that a player who is still recovering from such a serious injury could command that kind of money.

But the unstable nature of the Kings' situation likely had everything to do with the hefty price they were willing to pay, as they have a coach-player conflict between George Karl and DeMarcus Cousins and a roster that remains in flux.

After trading Jason Thompson, Carl Landry, Nik Stauskas and a 2018 first-round pick to Philadelphia in order to clear the salary cap space for players like Matthews, they remain in pursuit of free agent point guard Rajon Rondo. The former Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks talent is scheduled to visit the Kings in Sacramento on Friday.

Matthews is confident that he'll return to his previous form, and he is expected to be fully healthy by the time the regular season rolls around. He will likely take part in training camp, but may have to ease his way into the on-court action early on. Matthews, who is considered one of the better perimeter defenders in the league, has averaged 14.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists in six seasons.

He went undrafted out of Marquette in 2009, then played his rookie season with the Utah Jazz before his next five campaigns came in Portland. NBA.com first reported that Matthews agreed to sign with Dallas.

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