Wesley Matthews and the New York Knicks have agreed to a buyout that will allow Matthews to join up with the Indiana Pacers.
The New York Knicks and Wesley Matthews will agree to a contract buyout, per Shams Charania of The Athletic. Charania added the Indiana Pacers will sign Matthews once he hits the open market.
Wesley Matthews will be released by the New York Knicks today and plans to sign with the Indiana Pacers, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @WatchStadium. Major wing addition for the Pacers.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 7, 2019
Matthews, 32, was traded to the Knicks along with Dennis Smith Jr., DeAndre Jordan, and draft picks from the Dallas Mavericks in last week’s Kristaps Porzingis trade. He has averaged 12.8 points per game while shooting 37.4 percent from three-point range this season.
Thus ends Wesley Matthews’ New York tenure after just two games. He averaged seven points in 27 minutes per contest in that brief stretch.
Prior to his buyout, Spotrac listed him as earning $18.6 million in the final year of a four-year, $70 million deal signed with Dallas back in 2015.
It just goes to show, Knicks fans, the team is in full-on tank mode. The Knicks are the worst team in the league at 10-43. Finishing with one of the three worst records would give the Knicks a 14 percent chance at landing the first overall pick.
Matthews still has a role in the league as a strong three-and-D wing. He should be a solid addition for the Pacers who are still looking for players to step up in the wake of Victor Oladipo‘s injury.
This gives Matthews the opportunity to play major minutes before he looks to ink a new deal in the offseason.
This was an expected move and gives the Knicks the opportunity to play their young players. Furthermore, this gives Matthews a chance to play on a playoff team and play his way into his next contract.
