I think most of the Matthews threads are only considering the short term effect of matching. What we really need to look at it, is the long term. We traded RB because we felt he wasn't the long-term answer, and thought that Matthews might be that guy. If he is, then no way should we not match.
The Long Term Implications of the Matthews Match
- Thread starter write4u
- Start date
7StraightIsGreat
Well-Known Member
That's where I'm torn on this. For as bad as people want to make the contract sound (and I'll admit it's not a great deal for Utah), nearly 30% of the contract comes off the books after that first year. The final 4 years of the deal, Matthews is basically going to average the full MLE. That's not terrible. If matched, I don't think Utah fans are going to be looking at this deal as a back-breaker that is keeping us from making other moves. Deals like the Kirilenko deal are what kill you years down the road.
If Utah matches the offer, they better be sure that Matthews is the starting SG for this team over the next 5 years, and when I say sure, they better be damned sure.
I don't think Matthews has hit his ceiling. Granted, he's already 23 so I don't think his ceiling is much higher but I think a good example is how Wes elevated his game in the playoffs. His points and 3 point shooting % all took pretty good jumps. If that's the Wes Matthews that we're going to get night in and night out, then sign me up.
However, I still see the merits of not matching. I think if Portland had to take on Wes' contract it would hurt them more than it would hurt Utah paying him that much. While Portland's owner has deeper pockets, he also has a higher payroll and will be paying $9 million next year for a player who may not even be the first option off the bench.
I've gone back and forth on this a ton so I've decided that since I can't make up my mind that I'm going to see the silver lining when Utah makes their choice.
If the Jazz match, we have our starting SG locked up and I just happen to think that he's the perfect player for this system and we know what we're going to get night in and night out.
If they don't match, Portland gets stuck with a contract they probably didn't even really want and we still can move on with cheaper alternatives.
InGameStrategy
Well-Known Member
Does this really require its own thread, on top of "most of the Matthews threads"?
You are right on cash perspective. However, as far as I know, the cap effect is different as the initial payment will be distributed to other years ( and first year cap will not get the 30% hit)
carolinajazz
Well-Known Member
...personally, I like threads with more distinctive "themes"..... as opposed to just general ones. I have no problem with it.
BENTLEY
Well-Known Member
I think people are overvaluing Matthews because his story is so awesome. He's a cool guy and in his rookie year worked his tail off. And so he earned this bloated contract. Good for him. But now that he's accomplished his goal I'm not sure he'll bust his *** so hard. I'm not saying he won't - but we've only seen him one year so far, and that was a year in which he was working extremely hard to earn a bigger paycheck.
There still are some question marks with him, and weaknesses. And considering the minimal drop-off from him to Brewer, and the much better price tag, I don't see a problem just bringing back Brewer and letting Wes join Portland's backcourt ensemble.
There still are some question marks with him, and weaknesses. And considering the minimal drop-off from him to Brewer, and the much better price tag, I don't see a problem just bringing back Brewer and letting Wes join Portland's backcourt ensemble.
D
Deleted member 365
Guest
I couldn't disagree more.
It has nothing to do with whether Wes came from the undrafted ranks or was our first rounder from last year. I could care less about his story. He kicked ***.
People have seen years of terrible SGs since Jeff Hornacek. Matthews was the first one that
A. Had athleticism
B. Could shoot
C. Played defense
Korver could shoot, but didn't have A or C.
Brewer was athletic, but really couldn't do B and C was pretty average.
Kirk Snyder sucked. What an abortion.
Gircek couldn't do any of the above. Bell was decent... Cheney, Starks, and Fisher couldn't do any of the above.
If we want to let Matthews go, hopefully we understand that it might take another 10 years to find a SG that plays defense, can shoot, and is athletic.
Stifle Tower
Punch Bowl Re-Filler
Great points by Thriller, write4u and jazzman12.
And Bentley...there is a HUGE dropoff from Matthews to Brewer. About equal defensively - Brewer takes more chances, Wes plays more straight-up. But do you understand how rare it is for a SG to hit 48% on his FG's? Who else did last season? I'll give you some help. Here are some of the players who didn't: DWade, Kobe, Allen, Johnson, Crawford.
I've been torn on this one. And I'll support the Jazz whichever way they go. I like Matthews...a LOT. Sign him and we can't do much else. Sign him and use a TPE and we won't have much space under the cap next season. And, IMO, that's the only way to possibly get a player like Marc Gasol. We'd have to really overpay. Which means we'd need to get under the CAP, not just the tax threshold. I don't see Utah going anywhere without a decent center.
Now if the Jazz feel Fesenko & Tomic can patrol the lane, then by all means, match the offer for Matthews. I really like a Matthews, Honzward, CJ rotation at the 2/3. Or maybe we'll get lucky and can use AK's expiring to get a BIG. Haywood was the prize last year but we were selling, not buying. This year it changes. Even matching for MAtthews, Jazz can be right around the tax threshold, meaning we can take back $17M for AK.
Tough decision.
rqt.
Darkwing Duck
Well-Known Member
Matthews is quite average athletically. Most SGs don't get stuffed by the rim as many times as Matthews did. He's okay on the ground but has poor leaping ability.
He's an average shooter.
He plays defense, not that some on the opposite team notice and score on him anyway. He's definitely worth a contract, but I'm willing to bet he's not worth the 7.5 million dollar cap hit in year 5.
He's an average shooter.
He plays defense, not that some on the opposite team notice and score on him anyway. He's definitely worth a contract, but I'm willing to bet he's not worth the 7.5 million dollar cap hit in year 5.
He's only an inch or so taller than Deron ... and he outjumps Deron. No one says Deron is unathletic. Plus you discount his speed ... he can motor with the best of them, and has quick feet, which is one of the reasons he's a good defender. And I don't recall him getting stuffed by the rim ... you got the clips to prove this? I watched every game this year, and I don't recall such an occurrence.