Wes Matthews Injury: Updates on Mavericks Star's Recovery from Achilles Injury

Fresh off signing a contract in Dallas that far exceeded public expectation, Wesley Matthews is continuing his recovery from an Achilles rupture, but the Mavericks won't rush him back to the court.

Continue for updates.

---

Carlisle Comments on Matthews' Injury

Tuesday, Aug. 4

“You know, we’ve done research on it,” Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle said when discussing Matthews’ injury, courtesy of Mavs.com's Earl K. Sneed. Carlisle continued:

"

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. I think the most important thing is that he makes a full recovery, because we’re signing him to a four-year deal. The first year is more about making sure that he’s right and getting him out there on the right terms, and from there we want him to make a full recovery and continue to get better.

"

As noted by Deadspin's Kyle Wagner in 2013, the history of players recovering from Achilles injuries is onerous. The average player saw a player efficiency rating drop of 4.64 points his first year returning from injury while playing more than five fewer minutes per game.

Tack on a similar drop to Matthews' performance, and he goes from an above-average player to being below replacement level. To say his recovery is paramount to Dallas' future might be an understatement.

---

Cuban Says Matthews Is Shooting Jumpers

Monday, July 13

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said Matthews is progressing well in his recovery, though he didn't have a timetable when he'd return to the court full-time.

"Doc said he's fine," Cuban said, per Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "He’s sending me little clips of him shooting jumpers. But you never know until you know."

Matthews, 28, injured his Achilles in March while a member of the Portland Trail Blazers. An integral two-way player who stretches the floor, Matthews was expected to command a near-max salary in free agency before the injury. Cuban's decision to hand him $70 million over four years—$13 million of which was tacked on after DeAndre Jordan spurned Dallas to return to the Los Angeles Clippers—has raised quite a few eyebrows.

Follow Tyler Conway (@tylerconway22) on Twitter