Matthews write-up (Snoregonian)

[MickZagger]

"LaMarcus (Aldridge) is playing incredible basketball and he's one of the best players in the league right now," Blazers center Joel Przybilla said. "But what Wesley does for this team is comparable to what LaMarcus is doing. I mean that. Without him ..."

"We'll use him as the benchmark in terms of our future draft picks and any future trades," assistant coach Bill Bayno said. "We'll try to get guys close to him. The toughness. The coachability. The unselfishness. But mostly the toughness. To get a guy that brings what we call a pit bull attitude; that's how you win in the playoffs. It's not just skill. You look at the Celtics. They have that killer, I'll-fight-you-to-get-a-ball attitude. Like physically fist-fight you. And Wesley brings that."

"He guards the best players every night, he gets the big loose balls and he doesn't back down from anyone," Bayno said. "He's has that Old School attitude. You talk about having what it takes to win a championship and he's got it. He's a champion. That attitude he has, all the winners have. Bottom line. You step on that court, there's no friends. I'm trying to kill you. End of story. The Lakers are that way. The Celtics are that way. The Spurs are that way. Wesley is that way."

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2011/02/wesley_matthews_represents_the.html

 

[Natebishop3]

I honestly think Wesley is one of the best free agent signings we have ever had.

 

[MIXUM]

saved our season

 

[Pinwheel1]

His signing is a good argument for signing the best player for your team that is available as a free agent regardless of position or depth. Just like Milsap and Lee would have been last year. (Although Miller worked out too)

Don't worry about the depth or hurting anyones feelings that may have to sit. Get the best players and let it work itself out. You never know when an injury occurs or to whom. And besides if gives you more trade options later on.

 

[andalusian]

Love what Wes is doing. Kid is fantastic.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Bayno mentioning that they'll measure players against Wesley when it comes to the draft and free agency needing that "pit bull attitude," I couldn't help of think of the way KP drafted and pursued players in free agency when he was here. Talk about a contrast in style.

 

[andalusian]

Bayno mentioning that they'll measure players against Wesley when it comes to the draft and free agency needing that "pit bull attitude," I couldn't help of think of the way KP drafted and pursued players in free agency when he was here. Talk about a contrast in style.

I am pretty sure the KP regime started looking for bruisers/high motor guys as well - with Dante and Pendy... add the fact that Wes was actually a KP target - and your statement seems to be very much off-target...

 

[Draco]

I am pretty sure the KP regime started looking for bruisers/high motor guys as well - with Dante and Pendy... add the fact that Wes was actually a KP target - and your statement seems to be very much off-target...

KP was not employed by the Blazers when we signed Wes.

 

[andalusian]

KP was not employed by the Blazers when we signed Wes.

So, you think the Blazers who fired KP 2 weeks before they could sign Wes to a qualifying offer (and did not have a GM at the time) never discussed it before? Please - KP most certainly had been part of the team that made the team's plans for the off-season - including draft and free-agent acquisitions.

This was a KP acquisition down to method that was identical to the one used for Milsap.

 

[Ghost Pepper]

All I keep thinking is what in the world would this team have done if Matthews wasn't here when this whole Roy thing went south? If that was Cho's doing... he's earned his first years pay check for sure!!!

Matthews is the toughness we've always needed! Our Ron Artest without the drama! HAHAHA!

 

[andalusian]

All I keep thinking is what in the world would this team have done if Matthews wasn't here when this whole Roy thing went south? If that was Cho's doing... he's earned his first years pay check for sure!!!

Cho was hired as GM 9 days after the contract offer to Wes.

 

[Ghost Pepper]

Well whoever brought him in did the right thing! Great contract, great player, great attitude! Win, win for Blazers!

 

[maxiep]

It's funny that we never hear many complaints about his contract anymore.

 

[Minstrel]

KP was not employed by the Blazers when we signed Wes.

Born and Buchanan were in charge at the time and it was reported that they were following the plan that they had helped Pritchard put together. So it was Pritchard's plan (with, of course, the input of his chief assistants).

 

[MickZagger]

I've always been big on players who go balls out. Matthews wasn't handed jack shit, he had to earn everything he's accomplished and he's never complacent. I think thats why he's my favorite Blazer. When he got that contract he vouched that he would earn every dime of it, so far he's backed that up.

 

[maxiep]

I've always been big on players who go balls out. Matthews wasn't handed jack shit, he had to earn everything he's accomplished and he's never complacent. I think thats why he's my favorite Blazer. When he got that contract he vouched that he would earn every dime of it, so far he's backed that up.

He's even arguably earned his 1st year salary with the bonus. In the out years, when the actual cash payouts are $3MM/annually, he'll be a steal.