Bucks guard Wesley Matthews will decline his player option and become a free agent

Wesley Matthews has decided to test the market when NBA free agency opens on Friday.

After one season with the Milwaukee Bucks, the 34-year-old guard plans to decline his $2.7 million player option for the 2020-21 season and become an unrestricted free agent, according to a league source. The act of opting out doesn't necessarily preclude Matthews from returning, but after a positive showing last season starting on the team with the league's best record, there should be opportunities for Matthews to get a more sizable contract.

In 67 games, Matthews averaged 7.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists while shooting 36.4% from three-point range. He also was a stalwart presence on defense, often picking up the opposing team's best wing and doing yeoman's work on a nightly basis. His overall numbers were slightly better in the playoffs, though he remained at around 24 minutes per game in the postseason, consistent with his regular-season average.

Easily slotting into one of the best starting lineups in the league, shooting well from long range, taking on tough defensive tasks and jelling with a tight-knit locker room are all qualities that should make Matthews a desirable free-agent candidate for top teams looking to add a veteran presence. Both NBA finalists, the champion Los Angeles Lakers and runner-up Miami Heat are rumored to be interested in Matthews and either could be a good fit whether Matthews wants to sign for the minimum or slightly more.

Still, the Bucks have options for retaining Matthews' services. As his most recent team, they have the unique ability to give him a slight pay bump (120% of a minimum deal) if he decides to return. They could also offer him all or part of their bi-annual exception ($3.6 million) or their mid-level exception, which will be either $5.7 million as a tax-paying team or the regular $9.3 million for non-tax-paying teams.

With the trade moratorium lifting on Monday, the draft on Wednesday and free-agency kicking off on Friday, the Bucks have a bevy of huge decisions to make over the coming week. They're already over the $109.1 million salary-cap threshold with only eight of 15 players signed for next year, not including center Robin Lopez who is mulling a $5 million player option.

Getting Matthews back would be a major boost in solidifying the Bucks' core for the 2020-21 season. However, doing so could seriously hamstring their opportunities for bringing in other free agents unless Matthews is willing to come back on a minimum deal. Matthews' play last year, though, proved he is certainly more valuable than a bargain-bin contract. He bet on himself and he's in a position to cash in, which is at once great for him and a challenging situation for the Bucks if they're hoping to bring him back.