Wesley Matthews will be launching Bow and Arrow Bombs for another team next season.

The free agent shooting guard agreed in principal to a four-year contract with the Dallas Mavericks Thursday night, according to NBA.com, electing to leave the Trail Blazers after a widely successful five-season run during which he grew into one of the best "3-and-D" players in the NBA.

The financial terms of the deal have not been finalized, multiple reports say, because the Mavericks are waiting to hear whether other free agents they are chasing -- including LaMarcus Aldridge -- decide where to play. Either way, Matthews' deal cannot become official until the NBA free agent moratorium ends on July 9.

Heading into free agency, it was unclear what the market would be for Matthews, who ruptured his left Achilles' tendon March 5 during a game -- against the Mavericks -- at the Moda Center and missed the rest of the season. The injury not only sabotaged any chances the Blazers had of contending in the Western Conference, but also raised questions about his demand this summer.

Would teams risk investing in a player coming off an injury that severe? Will Matthews return the same player? Can he even be ready to play opening night?

But the Mavericks decided the potential reward outweighed the risk. And they were not alone. The Sacramento Kings reportedly made a hard push for Matthews, offering a robust four-year deal worth $64 million, according to ESPN, which was more than the $15 million annual salary he had been seeking.

The Mavericks are landing a standout defender and steady long-range shooter universally respected in the Blazers' locker room. Matthews averaged 15.9 points and 3.7 rebounds per game and anchored the Blazers' perimeter defense last season. He also has developed into one of the game's best three-point shooters and will leave Portland as the franchise leader in long-range makes with 826 -- a healthy number of which were followed this season by the sight of him hurling mock bow and arrows.

Matthews signed with the Blazers as a restricted free agent in 2010, when the team plucked him away from the Utah Jazz with a stunning $32.5 million contract offer sheet following his rookie season. In a story that has been well chronicled, Matthews went undrafted out of Marquette University and had to play on two summer league teams just to earn a training camp invitation from the Jazz as a rookie. He not only made Utah's regular season roster, but also blossomed into a starter by the postseason.

In Portland, Matthews evolved into a fan favorite, as Rip City embraced his passion, gritty game, hustle-infused style and desire to play every night, which earned him the nickname Iron Man.

--Joe Freeman | jfreeman@oregonian.com | 503-294-5183 | @BlazerFreeman