Wesley Mathews last 10 games

[GP]

I am always torn when I see the box score for mathews. I am happy the guy is doing well, but sad that we didn't match. Honestly, though, I didn't see him performing this well, so I don't blame the jazz for not matching.

[countrybama24]

I mean, the kid shot 3s at 40% his rookie year, was the best on ball defender on the team, and averaged 13 ppg in the playoffs against afflalo / kobe.

I know the blazers offered a lot, but I think we should have seen him becoming a bigger offensive threat given his work ethic. Even a small improvement over his rookie performance would have made him a quality starting SG in the NBA.

Quality NBA Starting SGs command around 7 mil a year. I don't mean to be all salty about this, but I definitely wanted us to match basketball and cap-wise (but it's not my money, so easier decision). Now he's close to a 20 ppg scorer as a starter, would have stretched the floor for us, been a great presence in the locker room, and defended their best wing players. Sigh.... being a small market team sucks (unless you got a billionaire owner).

Maybe we can get him back when Portland decides to rebuild.

[The59Sound]

I'm sure he'd be one of the pieces Portland would build around. He's no old man, and he's getting better and better.

Watching this game on TNT, it's amazing how complete a player he's becoming. His handles are vastly improving, and he's showing great court vision and passing ability. He's just so confident and aggressive out there, it's stunning. Really enjoying watching him play.

I've got no love for Portland, but I'm finding it easy to cheer for them -- a combination of how much I like Matthews, and feeling bad for them about Roy's deterioration.

[finnegan]

If we would have kept Matthews, we wouldn't have signed Raja and probably would have needed to trade AK or CJ for next to nothing to hover around the salary cap.

There was a better option. Overpay for one year until AK's salary comes off the books, and then sign AK for about $4 mil, next year.

I proposed and maintain, that the Jazz will lose more revenue from the playoffs (i.e., not advancing as far as they could have with Mathews), than they would have had to pay for Mathews.

In fact, Mathews deserved $4-$5 million, so the gap between what Portland payed and what Utah was willing to pay was only a couple million a year.

Free Agency is a pretty efficient market, so if another team is willing to pay your restricted free agent a certain amount, then it is usually not that far off (i.e. Okur, Boozer, Mathews, Milsap). Contract extentions are a whole different story (i.e., Rudy Gay, Andre Kirilenko), because the value is not determined by the Market.

[The59Sound]

If we would have kept Matthews, we wouldn't have signed Raja and probably would have needed to trade AK or CJ for next to nothing to hover around the salary cap.

There was a better option. Overpay for one year until AK's salary comes off the books, and then sign AK for about $4 mil, next year.

I proposed and maintain, that the Jazz will lose more revenue from the playoffs (i.e., not advancing as far as they could have with Mathews), than they would have had to pay for Mathews.

Oh, is that all? Sign AK for 4 mil? You know, he does have a say in whether or not he signs a contract, and there's a number of teams out there that would give him more than that.

Also, your playoff revenue claim is crazy, in my opinion, especially given the NINE MILLION DOLLAR BONUS Matthews was owed this year.

[kamazilla]

Free Agency is a pretty efficient market, so if another team is willing to pay your restricted free agent a certain amount, then it is usually not that far off (i.e. Okur, Boozer, Mathews, Milsap). Contract extentions are a whole different story (i.e., Rudy Gay, Andre Kirilenko), because the value is not determined by the Market.

Maybe. My issue with Jazz management in the Matthews case is their failure to extend him to a contract commensurate to his value in the first place. Knowing their financial limitations compared to those of other teams, and having had clear indications of his potential on the court, they had to know there were going to teams out there capable and willing to make it very difficult for the Jazz to retain Matthews if he ever reached free agency.

It has been demonstrated clearly over the past several seasons that some teams are willing to vastly overpay to fill a perceived need. Allowing a good player to reach free agency in order for the "market" to determine his value is no longer a viable business or competitive strategy in retaining players. The Jazz must be more effective in anticipating the market in order that they be aggressive in extending their players before they reach free-agency.

[finnegan]

Oh, is that all? Sign AK for 4 mil? You know, he does have a say in whether or not he signs a contract, and there's a number of teams out there that would give him more than that.

How much do you think that we should resign him for? How much do you think other teams will offer him? Regardless, it will be much less than he is making now, and my scenario is 100% true in terms of only having to overpay for one year.

Also, your playoff revenue claim is crazy, in my opinion, especially given the NINE MILLION DOLLAR BONUS Matthews was owed this year.

Average it over the life of his contract, and it is a couple million a year. Exactly like I said! Not to mention, that you need to take into consideration the playoff games over the life of his contract too. The Jazz lost money when they decided not to match.

[DaVoiceMaster]

Hey guys, Portland fan here. Read the thread and had to chime in. Lotta good stuff in this thread. I think the problem with Matthews contract was the signing bonus. He got $9 million a week after signing the contract. I believe that was the problem for the Jazz. The overall contract is not that bad, but that first pay check was enormous. I don't remember if the Blazers did the same type of contract with Milsap or if it was just a larger contract overall. Matthews has definitely played well as a starter. He didn't do so well coming off the bench though. He's definitely making up some of the gap Roy is leaving with his knees now. Real pisser about Roy, but Matthews has been a shining star.

[benefit1970]

If the NBA imposes a Hard cap next summer. The Blazers will hate what they are paying the role player .

Uh, he is not playing like a role player, quite frankly he is earning that money.

And yet they keep losing. And they have talent.

Trust us: Matthews had absolutely nothing to do with that 6-game losing streak.

As disturbing as it is to say, you can almost certainly pin that on the disfunction in our lineup caused by bringing back Brandon Roy, who certainly should be coming off the bench. We lost one potential franchise player in Oden, and now we must deal that we lost our current franchise player in Roy.

Matthews is an absolute blessing, and I don't see how you can say he's not worth every penny and then some. I kind of figured it would take him a while to adjust to a new system, and it did, but he works his ass of and is now flourishing. He hasn't even reached his potential.

I guess I understand that you'd be in denial about losing him... but if Blazer fans can be frank and honest about the fact that Roy will never be the same, you guys have to step up and take this one on the chin, too.

Actually, I suppose Blazer fans are the most resilient in the league right now due to all that's happened with the injuries, so I guess I don't blame you. By the way, I would wager to guess that most Blazer fans are like me: you have a great team that you can be proud of, and we are absolutely green with envy over your coach.

Thank you for Matthews. Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou.

[finnegan]

Allowing a good player to reach free agency in order for the "market" to determine his value is no longer a viable business or competitive strategy in retaining players. The Jazz must be more effective in anticipating the market in order that they be aggressive in extending their players before they reach free-agency.

I actually agree with you 100%, and stated as much in my earlier posts when the Jazz were making their decision. They should have locked Mathews up much sooner. In fact if they had done so shortly after he became a starter, they probably could have got him for about $2 million per year for 2-3 years.

Look at Denver! They are going to get nothing now for Melo. The Knicks are playing well, and Melo is not going to sign for anyone else. If you always wait (like the Jazz do) to let things settle out, then you may avoid a few mistakes, but you are more often going to have to pay a hefty fine (i.e., losing Mathews) for waiting, because when they are a known commodity their value sky rockets.

[finnegan]

I think the problem with Matthews contract was the signing bonus. He got $9 million a week after signing the contract.

The Jazz did the exact same thing to Cleveland with Boozer. Portalnd tried the same move with Milsap. It is a common strategy.

Teams do it to punish the team they are trying to get the player from, and the problem is magnified if they are not under the cap.

I am not saying that all teams should match all pending offers for their restricted free agents, but I am saying that it may often not be as expensive as it seems.

[idajazz]

The 2 biggest mistakes made by the front office in the last decade are AK's contract and not locking up Mathews.

[hoops4life]

At the time though, Ak's contract didn't look like that big of a mistake.

It has only been 20 something games, let's wait on Mathews.

[UTJazzFan_Echo1]

I don't think either of them have been a mistake. We had to keep AK here and his market value at the time was max money. Matthews...ya we should have kept him, we all know that. But we're not the Lakers or the Heat or the Knicks or the Bulls who have endless amounts of money to throw around. I don't think he would have been the difference between winning a championship or not (at least season) so I can't say letting him walk is a huge mistake. If he turns out to be a 4 or 5 time all-star then ya, it would have been a huge mistake but I can't see that happening.

Matthews is the new Mo Williams. It sucks to see him go but in the long run it's probably the best thing for the team.

[countrybama24]

This team needs two moves it needs to do before it can credibly contend...

1. Another big to fix Interior defense (and now rebounding)
2. Another wing who can reliably shoot / defend

Sure, matthews wasn't gonna win us a championship or anything. But he fixed one of those two problems. Now replacing matthews is easier than finding an interior defender, but losing him nonetheless sets the team back.

Maybe the front office might learn something about handling our free agents, idk. Maybe it was just unavoidable given our financial situation. Hopefully the new CBA has some revenue sharing / salary adjustments that can help in the future.