Garrison Mathews - Professional Shooter

[nate33]

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At the start of the season, sources said, the NBPA was against increasing the two-way games limit past 50 games for two reasons: not wanting NBA teams to use them as substitutes for signing players to full roster spots, and to give players currently on two-way contracts leverage to attempt to get converted to standard NBA contracts themselves.

The expected agreement, however, will address those concerns. The players currently on two-way deals will be paid at the standard NBA minimum rate once they go past the 50-game limit -- allowing them to make the same money as if they would have been converted to a standard contract, sources said. And, given the season is half over and teams are still navigating trying to complete the regular season amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the potential fears about players on two-ways being used in place of full roster spots have lessened.

Well, I guess that issue is resolved. Mathews will stay on a 2-way contract but start getting paid a vet-minimum salary once he gets past the 50-game limit.

[payitforward]

Yup.

But... will this cause us a luxury tax problem? Or, despite the raise, do these 2 way guys still not count against cap/tax?

[nate33]

Yup.

But... will this cause us a luxury tax problem? Or, despite the raise, do these 2 way guys still not count against cap/tax?

Sportrac says we have about $800K in luxtax room, so it shouldn't be an issue even if the extra money does count against the tax.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Glad he is finally getting time. Certainly he has validated all of us bitching about his DNPs.

Still needs more touches though.

This is the problem with him starting -- the touches aren't available w/ Beal & Westbrook on the floor.

We lost to Boston last night by 1 point.

In our 240 total player-minutes, we took 84 shots.

The starters played 129 minutes & took 61 shots -- 51 of those were by Beal & Westbrook. The other starters got 10 shots.

Conclusion: if you start alongside Brad & Russ, you don't get to shoot the ball.

OTOH, the bench (6 guys last night: Bertans, Avdija, Neto, Lopez, Len & Bonga) played 111 minutes & took only 23 shots. Of those 6, only Bertans is an excellent shooter with a high TS%, while Lopez & Len score on opportunities around the basket.

Conclusion: the Wizards bench lacks fire-power.

Thus, it is really foolish to start Garrison Mathews. It's a waste of a resource. It would be far better for him to come off the bench -- & mostly to play with Bertans also on the floor.

I would expect this to be good for Bertans as well. Note that in 26 minutes last night, Davis only got 9 shots! In fact, I believe that most of his open looks are in transition. With another shooter/scorer on the floor, that might get better. He might have more good looks off passes.

Make sense? Discuss, please.

Mathews needs to tell Westbrook and Beal pass the ball when he is open. The smooth way to do it is to say “Thanks for looking for me guys when I’m open”. Even if you know they haven’t been passing the ball.

Once the Wizards start using a hockey assist they will win more games. The ball will swing to Bertans once in a while. Davis should shoot when his feet are set and he has enough time to release the ball. However, he should pass whenever the defense closes on him. Mathews needs to be spotting up ready to shoot on the catch.

Beal and Westbrook need a coach who will remind them of how much more often the Wizards win when Beal has 5 or more assists.

When Rui has attempted three or more free throws I believe the Wizards have not lost more than once or twice.

I am actually encouraged by what is a very correctable error. Westbrook has be mindful and Beal needs to as well. Share the ball! Russ will pass to anyone but sometimes he and Beal look at the opponent and try to go hero .

I don’t know if Garrison should not start. It does seem like Bonga would be better as a starter.

[smoothSeph]

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It’d be nice if Russ or Beal passed the kid the ball.

[NatP4]

In 900 NBA minutes he has a 67.4% TS. The wizards would be smart to lock him up to a 4 year deal and give him 28+ minutes a night and 10+ shot attempts.

[nate33]

In 900 NBA minutes he has a 67.4% TS. The wizards would be smart to lock him up to a 4 year deal and give him 28+ minutes a night and 10+ shot attempts.

I really do hope they lock him up. I'm not quite ready to give him 28+ minutes though. It's a little difficult to play a guy at the SG position on offense when he is unable to handle secondary ball-handling duties because he can't dribble. If we acquired a playmaking forward, or if Avdija developed into that player, then it gets much easier.

For now, Mathews must play the SF role on offense, and he's a little too undersized to man the SF position defensively. I'm not hating. The guy has been a revelation for an undrafted walk-on. But he isn't a full time starter on a half-decent team, at least not one without a playmaking wing to offset his weakness.

[NatP4]

In 900 NBA minutes he has a 67.4% TS. The wizards would be smart to lock him up to a 4 year deal and give him 28+ minutes a night and 10+ shot attempts.

I really do hope they lock him up. I'm not quite ready to give him 28+ minutes though. It's a little difficult to play a guy at the SG position on offense when he is unable to handle secondary ball-handling duties because he can't dribble. If we acquired a playmaking forward, or if Avdija developed into that player, then it gets much easier.

For now, Mathews must play the SF role on offense, and he's a little too undersized to man the SF position defensively. I'm not hating. The guy has been a revelation for an undrafted walk-on. But he isn't a full time starter on a half-decent team, at least not one without a playmaking wing to offset his weakness.

Not fooling anyone, Scott.

[verbal8]

Does any one else see a Dan Majerle comp? Matthews is probably a better shooter, but not as strong on the boards.

https://stathead.com/tiny/4c9cF

[nate33]

Does any one else see a Dan Majerle comp? Matthews is probably a better shooter, but not as strong on the boards.

https://stathead.com/tiny/4c9cF

A little bit. I want to compare Mathews to Redick, but Mathews looks to be a bigger, better defender than Redick so I can see why the Majerle comparison comes into play.

Majerle was a rugged defender who made a couple of All-Defense 2nd teams. I don't see Mathews ever being that good defensively, particularly on the ball, but I can see him being somewhere between Majerle and Redick. Not as good as Redick coming off screens in motion, but better defensively, and not as good as Majerle on defense, but a better shooter.

It'll interesting to see how much better Mathews can get over time. He has become noticeably stronger, and I think that can continue a bit. Hopefully, he'll develop a little bit of a dribble game so he can execute secondary pick and roll like Redick can. I'd also like to see Brooks use him in pindowns and coming of screens. Mathews can definitely do more than stand in the corner.

[Ruzious]

I can't see the comp, tbh. Thunder Dan was a quality athlete and a much bigger/stronger guy. Mathews is a nice role player playing out of position at the 3 who out-works everyone.

[DCZards]

Does any one else see a Dan Majerle comp? Matthews is probably a better shooter, but not as strong on the boards.

https://stathead.com/tiny/4c9cF

Majerle was an outstanding all-around player who was good enough to make a USA Olympic team. Dan was tough and physical on both ends of the floor. Garrison is not in his league...despite what some numbers might say.

[payitforward]

Oh please... he doesn't even look like Dan Majerle!

[gambitx777]

He's an ok defender but many brooks does not use him right at all .

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[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

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It’d be nice if Russ or Beal passed the kid the ball.

It would be even nicer if they had a coach smart enough to emphasize this to his two star guard legends. Pass the ball to Garrison a little bit more fellows.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I can't see the comp, tbh. Thunder Dan was a quality athlete and a much bigger/stronger guy. Mathews is a nice role player playing out of position at the 3 who out-works everyone.

The only comparison is they are both white. OK both white and in the 6’4” to 6’7” range. Thunder Dan was great deal more above-the-rim. We have a quicker first step in my opinion. Garrison is strong similar to Dan. Mathews is a lot more tentative.

[closg00]

With the signing of Caleb Homesley, it appears that the org is going in a different direction with Mr. Matthews

[JAR69]

With the signing of Caleb Homesley, it appears that the org is going in a different direction with Mr. Matthews

I was wondering that, too. It would seem crazy, tho.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Garrison Mathews or Aaron Wiggins?

Next season

[badinage]

With the signing of Caleb Homesley, it appears that the org is going in a different direction with Mr. Matthews

Don’t think so.