Matthews: Jazz never made me an offer. I would have accepted less.

[Edgewriter]

I hope Portland was surprised. I hope they remain surprised for 5 years

 

[Mambo]

I wonder how their new GM feels about that contract. Considering the success he had in OKC and building a young team, this move seems like a poor decision on Portland's end. Not really a gamble you want to make on an undrafted 2nd year player coming out of Utah's system.

With Paul Allen being worth 20B I doubt it hurts them that much.

 

[homeytennis]

I liked what one of the SL writers said to the effect that Portland would offer a trained porpoise tons of money if they thought it would screw up Utah.

 

[BENTLEY]

Well played, F.O.

When I first heard about that exorbitant contract I felt sucker punched. 5 minutes later it dawned on me the moronic trap Portland set for itself, and I was cautiously elated (cautious because I worried Jazz might match). But yeah, at the poker table you look for patterns (but you play a lot more hands at the table than you do in NBA free agency -- this was only the Jazz' second hand!! to quote a line from "UHF" : SO STOOPID!!!).
Since the Jazz matched Millsap's contract the previous year/hand they must've thought they detected a pattern and that they could play the Jazz into a stupid loss. I'm so glad the Jazz F.O. isn't dumb. Right or wrong sometimes you wonder, but they've played very well this off season. Just not matching Wes' contract alone was some smart play. Raja and Al -- we're on a streak!

Eat it Portland!

 

[default]

I just don't get why KOC chose to give players like Gaines and Jeffers a 2nd year non-guranteed at the team's discretion and didn't bother to do that for Matthews regardless of how we thought he would do last year.

 

[royzzz]

Nice take from sltrib blog:
https://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogs/jazznotes/49953903-62/jazz-nba-news-matthews.html.csp

News: Wesley Matthews signed a five-year, $32.7 million contract with Portland after one outstanding season with the Jazz, who gave the undrafted free agent his opportunity to make an impact in the NBA.

Reaction: Two decades ago, Miami pursued a free agent by the name of John Stockton. The Heat were ready to offer the Jazz point guard $10 million a year -- an astronomical sum in those days. While reporting the story, I obviously had several conversations with Stockton, but one stands out after all these years and is applicable to today's happenings in the NBA. At one point, I suggested to Stockton that he had to take the offer, just to be fair to himself and his family. But in his unique, down-to-earth, level-headed way, he replied, "Steve, how much is enough?" I wonder what agents like Lance Young, who represents Matthews, would think about a client who told him, 'You know, I'm going to take a little less money because this is the organization and a coaching staff that gave me a chance. Let's give a little something back to the people who had faith in me, when nobody else did.'"

plus of course it is another brilliant Stock story

 

[mellow]

I wonder, when Mathews is introduced as the newest member of the Blazers, will he be smiling??

If I was him I would rent in Portland, cause they are going to ship him out ASAP.

 

[write4u]

The fact that the Jazz did make an offer beyond the QO does make me feel a little better. Sounds like Matthews' agent wasn't straight with him.

The "No hometown discount" sure didn't sound like something Wesley would say.

 

[vslice02]

I just don't get why KOC chose to give players like Gaines and Jeffers a 2nd year non-guranteed at the team's discretion and didn't bother to do that for Matthews regardless of how we thought he would do last year.

This isn't even close to the truth.

 

[BENTLEY]

I wonder, when Mathews is introduced as the newest member of the Blazers, will he be smiling??

If I was him I would rent in Portland, cause they are going to ship him out ASAP.

But who's gonna take on that exorbitant contract? Don't rent Wes - buy.

 

[Stifle Tower]

I just don't get why KOC chose to give players like Gaines and Jeffers a 2nd year non-guranteed at the team's discretion and didn't bother to do that for Matthews regardless of how we thought he would do last year.

Matthews came in to camp fresh off a 35% performance at the OSL. If not for the injuries to Korver and CJ he probably doesn't even make the team. His non-guaranteed contract became guaranteed in January, at which time Utah also gained restricted rights. No one foresaw Matthews exploding as an UFA. And no one could have possibly guessed Portland would step in with an unheard of offer. $2M per year would have been an offer on the high end. That's what a late-lottery pick from the 2009 draft would be making.

Portland's offer was so out there, they had to a) believe Matthews is the next MJ; b) wanted to screw over Utah and were 99% positive KOC would match the offer; or c) Matthews' agent has compromising pictures of Allen.

 

[BENTLEY]

B.

That big salary's yet another success story for Wes. I still like him and I'm glad for him.