Hold onto your shorts!

[Pinwheel1]

That remains to be seen, but at this kind of money I'm guessing they expect WM to be able to play about 30 minutes a night covering the small forward and shooting guard spots. The "Starter" designation may not mean all that much.

In any case whatever Nate/Buchanan/LM said to him they must have convinced him that he'd have a role of some significance.

Plus he has to realize that his role with the Jazz could change just as easily over the next 5 years. Nothing stays the same

 

[Nikolokolus]

Oh shit, I forgot about this part:

tribjazz

Jazz would have to make $9.2 million upfront payment to Matthews within seven days of matching the offer sheet.

If I remember correctly the Jazz Ownership isn't exactly super solvent and they had to shake out quite a few seat cushions last year to get Millsap paid.

 

[B-Roy]

Oh well, at least we fucked with the Jazz. That's always fun.

 

[RR7]

Or finally moving Roy to the point?

I'm leaning more and more this way. I'd been opposed before, but I think you ride with Batum on the opponents best wing player next season, regardless of the position. Most teams don't have a dominant point AND wing. Against N.O., he covers Paul, he's a waste on Posey or whoever. You have Matthews rotate to the second best guy, and Roy slack off, and maybe play the passing lanes, gamble on some steals more. With Oden and Camby behind them, we have the shot blocking to make up for getting beat, so what the hell. Also, you can pass on the seemingly 10 year search of a PG of the future.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Ross Siler from Jazz Tribune:
http://twitter.com/tribjazz

It says something that other agents are calling Jazz, describing Matthews offer as absurd and offering their clients as alternate options.

 

[RR7]

Those agents are likely doing that because their clients are free agents nex season, and they know they'll get a toxic offer from the Blazers.

 

[XXPrimusXX]

Blazers sign Wes Matthews to an offer sheet!

Fail. Look harder. >_<

I just figured I'd start a thread that might get 6 pages of replies, then someone else can make a topic about the same thing hours later.

Then I could edit my post a couple times, ramble on about nothing important, then eventually, someone would delete the thread, as it is useless.

What do you think?

 

[<-=*PdX*=->]

Those agents are likely doing that because their clients are free agents nex season, and they know they'll get a toxic offer from the Blazers.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Ross Siler from Jazz Tribune:
http://twitter.com/tribjazz

With all the absurd signing that have occured this July.....that is the one they choose to focus on?

 

[Pinwheel1]

I know Kevin O'Connor hates to be "bullied" (as he said last year) but I would not doubt that they go back to Ronnie Brewer instead, like JRay alluded to. He was a fan favorite and a good friend of DWILL

 

[B-Roy]

Random tought: Blazers with Matthews, Batum, Oden and Camby will be about 10,000 times better defensively than at midpoint of last season.

-Hollinger

So Matthews is a good defender I presume?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

-Hollinger

So Matthews is a good defender I presume?

Hollinger is unable to know. PER doesn't measure defense.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I know Kevin O'Connor hates to be "bullied" (as he said last year) but I would not doubt that they go back to Ronnie Brewer linstead, ike JRay alluded to. He was a fan favorite and a good friend of DWILL

The ultimate "eff you" is the fact that for two years in a row the Jazz have to come up with about ten million apiece in loose change to pay the signing bonuses for both Millsap and now Matthews. The Miller's have most of their cash tied up in their car dealerships and don't exactly have a ton of liquid money to make the payment that is due two weeks from now. I can't remember for the life of me how they came up with the money for Millsap's bonus, but I seem to recall they came into some kind of windfall that got them enough to pay him up front -- could have been tax payments for getting under the cap?

 

[gatorpops]

I think this can be a very good signing. I don't really care about the money as it allows a Batumn and Odens's extentions to be made easier. I can see how this would help keep Greg out of foul trouble as well. Roy as point in the fourth and Mathews, and Batum on the wing or point guard and this is a great defensive team. Mathews or Batumn playing off Roy is not bad folks.

 

[alex42083]

Crap, $9.2 million in the first year? Matthews did good for himself.

Watching these highlights when he had 20 against NOH, reminds me of a shorter, non-crazy version of Ron Artest with the broad shoulders, not that fastest guy but is in control of himself, and he can hit the open J.

[video=youtube;sd6JWErfB24]

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Post All-Star game numbers:

10.6 PPG
52 FG%
41 3pt%
88 FT%
27 MPG

 

[BGrantFan]

Forget the PER. Everyone always says we need to consolidate and have players on the bench that will be happy to be role players. I think this kid fills a hole that we currently have. A guy off the bench that can come in and play some D if Roy gets into foul trouble. Jazz fans love the guy. When I watched him play I could see why. He plays hard every time down court.

He started for the Jazz and played 37 mpg in the playoffs. Why would he want to come off of the bench behind Brandon Roy, and he had better not take minutes away from Batum and Bayless, who are both better players and younger than Matthews, who will be 24 years old when the season starts.

 

[Pinwheel1]

[video=youtube;X8S9JOngLIk]

Watch this one. He looks pretty fast to me. But it is rejection on Kobe I like best.

 

[RoyToy]

Post All-Star game numbers:

10.6 PPG
52 FG%
41 3pt%
88 FT%
27 MPG

Not bad at all for a rookie.

 

[BGrantFan]

From Woj's Twitter.

Wesley Matthews has signed a 5-year, $34 million offer sheet with Portland, his agent, Lance Young, tells Y!

Holy fuck that's the entire MLE. I hope the Jazz match.

If true, and if Utah doesn't match, this is by far the most ridiculous signing of the off-season. It's embarrassing to us all.

 

[alex42083]

Watch this one. He looks pretty fast to me. But it is rejection on Kobe I like best.

Yeah, he's much more athletic, too, than I thought he was. And his ability to knock down the 3 ball from the corners and free-throw line extended is a REAL good thing if he's going to play with B. Roy.

 

[Tortimer]

If true, and if Utah doesn't match, this is by far the most ridiculous signing of the off-season. It's embarrassing to us all.

I don't think it is the worse signing but even if it is it's PA money. Just give him a chance I think he is going to be a very good player for us. I'm still not sure the Jazz won't match. It is looking at lot better with the full MLE and front loader contract. I think the Jazz would match a full MLE without the front loaded and without having to pay 9.2m in the first 7 days.

 

[Pinwheel1]

He started for the Jazz and played 37 mpg in the playoffs. Why would he want to come off of the bench behind Brandon Roy, and he had better not take minutes away from Batum and Bayless, who are both better players and younger than Matthews, who will be 24 years old when the season starts.

Bayless can't guard a bigger SG. Maybe he won't be happy. But listening to him talk I think he is smart enough to realize that just because he started for the Jazz a half a season, doesn't mean he would start for most teams. He is a role player, and hopefully with the influence of his dad he will know better.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Off topic, but watching those videos, I am reminded of how much I love Deron Williams' game. If you could somehow combine him and Rajon Rondo, you'd have my fave non-Blazer EVER.

 

[BGrantFan]

Bruce Bowen never cracked double figures in PER for the Heat or Spurs.
Raja Bell's best PER for the Suns was 12.9.

Matthews isn't Bowen, and he isn't Bell. Look at what Kobe Bryant did to him in the playoffs. This is outrageous. This average player, at best, will basically be a $14 million liability once the team goes over the tax threshold next summer. Bell and Bowen were both starters, and this guy won't ever start over Roy or Batum.

 

[Ed O]

If true, and if Utah doesn't match, this is by far the most ridiculous signing of the off-season. It's embarrassing to us all.

How is it at all embarrassing? The Blazers have a chance to get a starting-level player to put into the rotation just for Paul Allen money. The team is already over the cap, so there is no opportunity cost other than that we have one fewer roster spot.

Why on earth would anyone be embarrassed by this? Haha.

Ed O.

 

[RoyToy]

I believe the Blazers are already one spot over 15, and this would make it two.

 

[BGrantFan]

Hmm, you know he's not going to start at SG but SF could be interesting if Batum is packaged.

He's 6'5". If we give up Batum for anyone short of Parker or Paul it's a net loss, IMO.

 

[Tortimer]

I believe the Blazers are already one spot over 15, and this would make it two.

I don't think we will keep both Mills and Johnson. So, I think we are at 15 and this will make us one over but I could be wrong.

 

[Ed O]

Matthews isn't Bowen, and he isn't Bell. Look at what Kobe Bryant did to him in the playoffs. This is outrageous. This average player, at best, will basically be a $14 million liability once the team goes over the tax threshold next summer. Bell and Bowen were both starters, and this guy won't ever start over Roy or Batum.

Raja Bell was never a great player, and I think Matthews could be the player Raja was.

Bell didn't even make it to the NBA until he was 24, and he didn't make an impact until the season he turned 25. He was 29 and with his fourth franchise before he became a regular starter.

Why is it hard to think Matthews might be even AHEAD of that pace?

Ed O.