RealGM

Most of us here have tried at one point or another to rationalize the decision to let Matthews go. I said, for example, that while I wanted to keep him, matching Portland's offer meant the Jazz wouldn't have Raja, Elson or Watson.

Can we all now agree that it was just flat wrong to not keep him?

From a team standpoint, absolutely we should have kept him......

From a financial standpoint, there was no way the Millers were going to pay around $15 million for his services (the salary plus luxury tax)......

red4hf wrote:From a financial standpoint, there was no way the Millers were going to pay around $15 million for his services (the salary plus luxury tax)......

I know it sucks to compete for players with a franchise that loses money every year and has a billionaire owner; I totally get that the Jazz play by completely different rules than the Blazers.

Still, I think they could have made subsequent moves that alleviated some of the financial strain. Plus I think Wesley Matthews increases this teams' chances of winning another playoff series, which means more revenue.

HappyProle wrote:

red4hf wrote:From a financial standpoint, there was no way the Millers were going to pay around $15 million for his services (the salary plus luxury tax)......

I know it sucks to compete for players with a franchise that loses money every year and has a billionaire owner; I totally get that the Jazz play by completely different rules than the Blazers.

Still, I think they could have made subsequent moves that alleviated some of the financial strain. Plus I think Wesley Matthews increases this teams' chances of winning another playoff series, which means more revenue.

I completely agree.... But the Jazz have never really been a team to take chances, and matching Matthews and gambling that they would be able to cut salary later, is a big risk to take......

Plus, lets' remember the last time the Jazz had to cut salary they had to give up Maynor.......

From a financial standpoint they would take it on knowing now what they know.

Well, they did sign Bell, Elson and Watson who make a combined $4.7 million while Mathews makes $5.8, so I really don't see the financial argument. What I do see, however, is that Mathews at that point had not proven to be worth that contract. Had he played like he did with us in Portland we would all be singing praises over KOC's foresight.

Hindsight being 20/20, yes, we should have matched - but who would have expected Mathews to play this well?

You have to wonder how he would react to the current skid. He is not shooting as well as he did last year -5% (pretty much the same 3pt%) but he is slightly up in all other categories which makes sense with increased minutes. I have also noticed that he has had some really bad shooting nights when I have randomly checked. He is also taken more shots at this point in the season than he did all last year.

I think we would really benefit from his defense, but for the price, I don't think he was the answer.

Jeez you know lets get that time machine and go back and sign matthews...... OH WAIT!

YOU IDIOTS NEED TO GET OVER IT, WE DIDNT RE-SIGN HIM, ITS TO LATE NOW PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE SHUTUP ABOUT IT.

1

yonexpro1 wrote:Jeez you know lets get that time machine and go back and sign matthews...... OH WAIT!

YOU IDIOTS NEED TO GET OVER IT, WE DIDNT RE-SIGN HIM, ITS TO LATE NOW PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE SHUTUP ABOUT IT.

This was more about letting people admit that we should have matched rather than continue to rationalize why it was the "right move" not to. It's therapeutic. Looks like it also gave you a forum for what may have been some much-needed screaming.

HappyProle wrote:

yonexpro1 wrote:Jeez you know lets get that time machine and go back and sign matthews...... OH WAIT!

YOU IDIOTS NEED TO GET OVER IT, WE DIDNT RE-SIGN HIM, ITS TO LATE NOW PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE SHUTUP ABOUT IT.

This was more about letting people admit that we should have matched rather than continue to rationalize why it was the "right move" not to. It's therapeutic. Looks like it also gave you a forum for what may have been some much-needed screaming.

LMAO sure, I dont think wes would be doing much better than last year, sloans system makes it hard for the wing players to get buckets like he has been doing in portland.

Wes has really been able to play free of the SYSTEM and is showing what he is capable of.

I'm pretty sure most of us said we should have kept him from the get go so.....

....pointless thread? Rubbing salt in the wound?

red4hf wrote:From a financial standpoint, there was no way the Millers were going to pay around $15 million for his services (the salary plus luxury tax)......

I was heavily criticized back when I was saying the the Jazz SHOULD match Mathews offer sheet, and that the money would easily be recouped over the life of his contract through additional rounds in the playoffs.

But to REDs comment above, maybe the Miller's should bring on some financial partners if they can't afford to invest in pretty much a sure thing like signing Mathews.

I said it before and I'll say it again. Matching offer sheets on Restricted Free Agents is more consistently a wise investment than almost any other scenario in the NBA, except getting a lucky draft pick or a gift like LeBron.

UTJazzFan_Echo1 wrote:I'm pretty sure most of us said we should have kept him from the get go so.....

I don't remember it that way. And after the Jazz didn't match there was a lot of rationalization for why it was the Right Move.

I really don't think the MIllers had 9 million dollars sitting around to hand over to Wesley on the day the contract became valid.

Would have been nice if we could have unloaded AK somehow and kept Wesley. He would be a serious difference maker on this team, what I have hoped AK would be this season, but unfortunately is not. I feel ya Happy. At the same time, if this team wasn't in the midst of the 5 game skid, nobody would be saying anything. So hindsight is indeed 20/20.