Loss Of Matthews Painful For Jazz

[ABM]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/...ll-knows-what-Matthews-meant-to-the-Jazz.html

SALT LAKE CITY — Until recently, Raja Bell wouldn't have known Wesley Matthews from Walter Matthau.

But after Matthews left Utah for Portland as a restricted free agent last offseason, paving the way for Bell to return for a second stint with the Jazz, the veteran swingman became curious.

"The few (Jazz) games I saw (last season), he wasn't fully in the rotation yet," Bell said. "I did get a peek at him in playoffs a little bit, and so, more than anything, I've asked a lot of people just how good he was, because he was a prized free agent his summer that I really didn't know about."

What Bell learned was that Matthews' loss last July was a painful one for the Jazz.

And with Matthews in town with the Trail Blazers for tonight's 2010-11 NBA preseason opener at EnergySolutions Arena, what was then bad news bears repeating now: Utah very much wanted to retain its prized undrafted rookie, one who became its starting shooting guard by season's end. But the Jazz deemed it neither wise nor financially feasible to match the five-year, $32.5 million offer sheet — with more than $9 million payable up front — that Matthews signed with the Blazers.

With a void to fill, then, Utah turned to lower-cost alternative Bell..............

More on Matthews.............

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/jazz/50426070-87/jazz-sloan-matthews-williams.html.csp

The game will be a homecoming for Portland guard Wesley Matthews, an undrafted rookie who became a starter for the Jazz last season.

He signed a five-year, $32.5 million free-agent contract with the Trail Blazers during the offseason.

Matthews scored 20 points Tuesday night in the Blazers’ 115-86 preseason win against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Asked about Matthews’ return, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan shrugged and said, “We have to play whoever is playing. I can’t worry about who he is. He’s a good player. We know he’s a good player. We had him. So what do you do about it?”

Sloan wants his team to “… just go play basketball. Hopefully, we don’t have a love-fest or something like that. Just play basketball. That’s the bottom line. I’m sure [Matthews] will do that. I don’t think there’s any question how he’ll come to play.”

 

[BGrantFan]

Seems like the writer was writing his own opinion of the Bell for Matthews swap, as opposed to Bell admitting that he is a downgrade over Wesley. Maybe I'm missing something?

 

[Public Defender]

Seems like the writer was writing his own opinion of the Bell for Matthews swap, as opposed to Bell admitting that he is a downgrade over Wesley. Maybe I'm missing something?

I didn't read it either way. The writer was basically saying that Matthews left for more money, and Raja Bell was available for the money the Jazz could pay.

I love the Sloan quote. There's a guy who obviously hates answering questions. It seems like any of his questions or statements could be punctuated with the word "asshole!" and it would fit perfectly. Like "we have to play whoever we're playing (asshole!)." Love Jerry Sloan. Love to hate him that is.

 

[mgb]

Sloan wants his team to “… just go play basketball. Hopefully, we don’t have a love-fest or something like that. Just play basketball. That’s the bottom line. I’m sure [Matthews] will do that. I don’t think there’s any question how he’ll come to play.”

I love that bold part.

Would be real nice to be able to see this game. Oh well, I'll be going to a Jazz game during the season, that'll have to do.

 

[Rhal]

So does the writer like/dislike them getting Bell and Losing Mathews. Seems like he didn't mind it at all but at midnight i'm kind of dense so something may have slipped passed me.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

I love that bold part.

Would be real nice to be able to see this game. Oh well, I'll be going to a Jazz game during the season, that'll have to do.

That bold part is probably the biggest compliment Sloan has given to any player, ever.