Mathews signs offer sheet w/Blazers (5 yrs/34 mil)

[BENTLEY]

Sooner or later Paul Allen will figure out that he's barking up the wrong tree and try to cherry pick somebody else's players.

No he won't. He'll know he can do it again and again because Jazz FO think with their heart and not with their brain. This is where you fold.
Then maybe he'll stop. If you play the hand the same exact way he's just gonna keep screwing you over the same exact way.

 

[BENTLEY]

Think of it this way - the offer really is absurd. Especially when you see that Portland has a crowded backcourt. Wes is just a SG - he doesn't fit any other position. And their stud SG Brandon Roy is not gonna be benched in favor of Wes Matthews.

Don't play into their hands. Portland will laugh with glee if the Jazz match. ... so don't.

This time call their bluff.

 

[Darkwing Duck]

The Jazz may be overpaying for Wes, but they need to sack-up and match this offer. Here's why:

#1- Even though Ronnie Brewer had his flaws, he was a good player for this team, this system and was a moral booster for out best player. The Jazz traded Ronnie specifically because of what Wes was starting to give them on the court. Trading Ronnie was the Jazz's way of saying that they felt Wes was the starting SG of the future for this orginization.

#2- They let Korver and Boozer walk without putting up a fight. While I agree with those decisions, you can't spend the entire offseason letting other teams pillage your roster. It sends the wrong message to your fans, as well as the other GM's around the league.

#3- Is a $33 million deal too much for Wes? Yes and no. At over 9 million, it's certainly too much for the first year (nearly 30% of the contract is that 1st year alone), but Utah needs to just bite down hard and bear it through the first year of his contract much like they did with Millsaps. After that, it's a much easier contract to swallow.


#4- Portland is a division rival with a rich A-hole of an owner who thinks the can eventually put the screws to a small market division foe like Utah. Show him for a 2nd consecutive year that he's simply not going to swoop in and steal the talent that the franchise spent serious time and effort acquiring and cultivating. Sooner or later Paul Allen will figure out that he's barking up the wrong tree and try to cherry pick somebody else's players.

#1. No way I believe the Jazz felt Matthews was the SG for the future. He's a stop gap and the Jazz would have no problem breaking ties if someone better came along. Just look at Brewer.

#2. Possible hit to the emotional fans of a team, not to the logical ones.

#3. In 2015-2016, Matthews will be around a 7.5 million dollar cap hit. That's outrageous. He gets 9.2 million upfront. That's outrageous.

#4. Not matching WOULD be sticking it to him. Let them lose the cap space and financial flexibility this contract brings to a team.

 

[gregbroncs]

Wow 5 year 34 million for Mathews. Your ****ing kidding right? Cya Mathews have fun it Porty.

 

[calijazz]

Daniels was a clown with poor work habits, loved partying and was injured prone. There are plenty of guys who continue to play well after getting a contract so what gives you a feeling that Wes will just tank it after getting his contract. There are zero signs he would do it.

I still think Mathews will continue to work hard after his contract, so that wasn't my point. My point was there's a risk in signing a player to a 34 million dollar contract when he's only been playing basketball in the NBA for a season. Is Mathews a typical long-term starter or a key reserve? It's hard to tell at this point. It's not like a typical rookie contract where they have 2-4 years to decide if he's worth a big new contract. In the financial position the Jazz are in, they aren't in position to take that chance.

 

[honz]

I guess Matthews got his raise, regardless.

 

[calijazz]

Ironic thing is, most Blazers fans on RealGM still think the Jazz will match this deal. It doesn't seem like too many care about the massiveness of the contract either (most want it to go through). That must be nice, we have no idea what that's like.

 

[BENTLEY]

#2- They let Korver and Boozer walk without putting up a fight. While I agree with those decisions, you can't spend the entire offseason letting other teams pillage your roster. It sends the wrong message to your fans, as well as the other GM's around the league.

This isn't like a schoolyard bully you have to stand up to and fight to get him to stop picking on you. Thinking like that at the poker table = sucker.

 

[gregbroncs]

No, but Matthews has shown that he can be a decent starter.

Utah should've known to offer more than a 1-year deal originally.

WTF are you talking about. He was an undrafted rookie who played below average in the summer league. He would not have even made the team last year if not for Miles' and Korver's injuries early in the season. So how exactly were they supposed to "know" to offer more than a 1 year deal?

 

[eleetham916]

do anyone think utah might do a sign in trade with portland...wes mathews for nicolas batum and jeff pendergraph so at least utah gets something in return

 

[twentytwo]

There is absolutely no way in hell the Jazz should match this offer.

I think that they will, however.

Let him go sit on the Blazer's bench for 9million next year.

 

[calijazz]

do anyone think utah might do a sign in trade with portland...wes mathews for nicolas batum and jeff pendergraph so at least utah gets something in return

I'm pretty sure we can't sign-and-trade Wes for two reasons: The Jazz don't have bird years (impossible for them to since he has only been in the NBA for one season) and secondly because he has already signed the offer sheet with Portland (not just agreed to but signed, unlike Boozer).