NBA 2018/19: The 3 worst contracts on the Dallas Mavericks roster

The Dallas Mavericks are currently gearing up to embark on a new era. Dirk Nowitzki is set to retire this summer after an incredible 21-year career with the Dallas team, however, it is also an exciting time for the franchise thanks to the emergence of Luka Doncic.

The 19-year-old was drafted during the summer, and his performances this season have already seen him labelled as a future superstar. The Slovenian has led an unfancied Mavericks team to a 19-22 start to the season, and while the future looks bright, there are still a number of bad contracts on the Mavericks roster. So, here we will look at the three contracts that may ultimately hold the franchise back.

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#3 Harrison Barnes

Barnes is not performing at an All-Star level

Harrison Barnes was selected by the Golden State Warriors as the 7th pick of the 2012 NBA draft, and he played a part in the Warriors early years of success. Barnes started all 82 games during the Warriors 2014/15 Championship winning season, averaging 10.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.4 assists, although he left the team just one year later.

Barnes career with the Warriors ended with a whimper, as he shot just 16 percent in the last three games of the 2016 NBA Finals, as the Warriors lost three times to the Cavaliers to lose their title. Despite this, Barnes still managed to attract a great deal of interest during free agency and eventually signed a four-year, $94 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks.

Barnes has performed well for the Mavericks, however, he has failed to justify the $24 million that he is being paid for the 2018/19 season. The 26-year-old is currently averaging 18.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists, which are underwhelming numbers for someone who is one of the highest earners in the league. Ultimately, Barnes has been a reliable performer for the Mavs, however, the team should look to trade away his huge deal.

#2 DeAndre Jordan

Dallas Mavericks v Denver Nuggets

During the early days of the 2018 free agency, DeAndre Jordan finally committed to join the Dallas Mavericks. The 30-year-old decided against opting into the final year of his deal in L.A., and this meant that the Mavericks finally got their man, albeit three years late.

Dallas had wanted Jordan to join them back in 2015, although after the centre verbally agreed to join the franchise, he soon changed his mind and stayed with his longtime Clippers team.

With the Mavs, Jordan signed a one-year deal worth close to $24 million, although this is a huge amount for a player that has just turned 30, and is in decline. The Mavericks are aware of this, as the team refused to offer Jordan a player-option for the 2019/20 season, and if Jordan is to stay in Dallas, he will have to take a huge salary cut in the summer.

#1 Wesley Matthews

Wesley Matthews taking a shot during a game against the Orlando Magic

Back in the summer of 2018, Wesley Matthews exercised his $18.6 million player option for the 2018/19 NBA season. The Mavericks were not surprised by the decision, as Matthews will never earn that kind of money elsewhere, although the team was hoping to part with the 32-year-old.

Matthews is a well-respected figure in the Mavericks locker room, however, Dallas wants to build around younger players, and Matthews is a necessary sacrifice to the organisation's project. The veteran has been with the team since 2015, although the team has reached the playoffs just once in this time, and Matthews' deal has proved to be vastly overpriced.

Matthews is currently averaging 13.7 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game, and he is shooting just under 40 percent from beyond the arc. While these are respectable numbers, the Mavericks will be hoping to find a younger player that can produce similar numbers, and all signs point to Matthews leaving the team this summer.