Get out the checkbook Paul Allen, we have a new Blazer! The Utah Jazz decided to pass on the Trail Blazers’ toxic offer for guard Wesley Matthews, so now Portland has to sign him. Their offer sheet now stands, meaning the Blazers will ink Matthews to a five-year, $33.4 million deal.
Is that a lot to spend on an undrafted player with a single year’s experience who will come off to bench behind Brandon Roy? Oh, dear god yes. But according to the numbers Matthews is a defensive star in the making with a balanced offensive game as well. He can hopefully fill the void left by the vacancy of Martell Webster and the soon-to-be vacancy of Rudy Fernandez. While definitely overpaid, the signing of Matthews is hardly the worst free agent signing of this offseason.
Welcome to Portland, Wesley Matthews. You can have Juwan Howard’s locker.
Update:
Stay out of Juwan’s locker, dude! Joe Freeman of the O reports that Utah has yet to confirm that they won’t resign Matthews. Looks like it’s back to drinking wine and watching Top Chef for me. I’ll update again once this becomes official.
The Portland Mercury – where our primary music reporter is also our primary sports reporter.
Ok, so now we get rid of Bayless and Fernandez. Though I feel like no one wants Rudy cause he’s only got a year left on his contract and totally wants to go back to Spain.
Ezra,
What’s become of those Scandanavi-Euros the Blazers drafted last year?
Wasn’t one some Spanish power forward and the other the Steve Nash of Finland?
And a few years ago didn’t the Blazers draft some British guy???
I know, British. W the F.
@Jacob Schraer
I think Rudy has a long NBA career in front of him, just not here. He wants minutes, and perhaps a less-plodding offensive scheme, so his discontent is not rooted in America, but just with the Blazers, specifically Nate McMillan.
@TSW
Victor Claver was supposedly at the facilities on draft night, but I didn’t see him. I’m sure he was impressed to see first hand how the team fired Pritchard on the biggest night of the year. Claver should be with the team next year if all goes to plan.
Last I checked the Blazers still hold the rights to Joel Freeland (Brit) and Petteri Koponen (Fin), but neither are crossing the pond anytime soon. Both are still quite young (23 and 22 respectively), so if they have breakthrough seasons perhaps they’ll get a chance to make the cut next year.