Yeah, he's much more athletic, too, than I thought he was. And his ability to knock down the 3 ball from the corners and free-throw line extended is a REAL good thing if he's going to play with B. Roy.
I don't think it is the worse signing but even if it is it's PA money. Just give him a chance I think he is going to be a very good player for us. I'm still not sure the Jazz won't match. It is looking at lot better with the full MLE and front loader contract. I think the Jazz would match a full MLE without the front loaded and without having to pay 9.2m in the first 7 days.
Bayless can't guard a bigger SG. Maybe he won't be happy. But listening to him talk I think he is smart enough to realize that just because he started for the Jazz a half a season, doesn't mean he would start for most teams. He is a role player, and hopefully with the influence of his dad he will know better.
Off topic, but watching those videos, I am reminded of how much I love Deron Williams' game. If you could somehow combine him and Rajon Rondo, you'd have my fave non-Blazer EVER.
Matthews isn't Bowen, and he isn't Bell. Look at what Kobe Bryant did to him in the playoffs. This is outrageous. This average player, at best, will basically be a $14 million liability once the team goes over the tax threshold next summer. Bell and Bowen were both starters, and this guy won't ever start over Roy or Batum.
How is it at all embarrassing? The Blazers have a chance to get a starting-level player to put into the rotation just for Paul Allen money. The team is already over the cap, so there is no opportunity cost other than that we have one fewer roster spot. Why on earth would anyone be embarrassed by this? Haha. Ed O.
I don't think we will keep both Mills and Johnson. So, I think we are at 15 and this will make us one over but I could be wrong.
Raja Bell was never a great player, and I think Matthews could be the player Raja was. Bell didn't even make it to the NBA until he was 24, and he didn't make an impact until the season he turned 25. He was 29 and with his fourth franchise before he became a regular starter. Why is it hard to think Matthews might be even AHEAD of that pace? Ed O.
Are you just defining him as "starting-level" because he did start for Utah, or do you feel he's that quality of player (counting both production and defense)? If so, why? Genuine question. I'd really like to like this move.
I think it's a bad offer because I don't think Matthews is a very good player. It's absurd, IMO. Kobe ripped him a new asshole in the playoffs, and defense is supposed to be this guy's forte?
So, you're paying him $9 million next year because he could become Raja Bell? Terrible fucking signing if the Jazz don't match, IMO.
Hate to break it to you but average players get the MLE these days. Look at Travis. As for "Look at what Kobe Bryant did to him in the playoffs"....didn't we already establish what a stupid comment this was?
I don't know if you noticed, but Matthews was effective because of Utah's execution, fastbreaking, and this guy we have named Deron Williams. If you ask me, I believe Matthews' success should be attributed a bit to Utah but the kid does play some killer defense. I just don't believe he's worth this money at all. If Utah does match, I'll be happy to have him back but this will add another overpaid player to the books. I hope he has fun backing up Roy in Portland
I think that, as a rookie, he was a solid starter for a good team. Assuming he improves marginally over time as he gets experience and additional maturity (although he is not that young, there should still be some potential to improve) he should remain a starting-level player. I'm not EXCITED by this acquisition, and I would rather add a big guy of similar potential/ability, but given the opportunity costs/alternatives, I think this is a solid addition in what might prove to be the last offseason where adding players when you're over the cap will be this easy. Ed O.
I'm not paying him anything. And I never particularly cared for Raja Bell nor his game, so I hope he doesn't become Bell. Why is it terrible? Other than that it's embarrassing, I mean. Ed O.
Well, of course we have to wait to see if we get Matthews first, but it is a funny thought. Last season, before the Camby trade, with Oden out and Joel out and Batum hurt, these were the guys playing "defense" in the spots Batum, Oden, Camby and Matthews will play: SF: Webster (not bad, but Batum is an upgrade) C: Juwan Howard (old, playing out of position, and never a great defender in his heyday, defense was ugly) Bench SG: Rudy (ole) Bench Big: Rookie Pendergraph. (not very good, though tries hard) There would be the potential for a big upgrade in defense next season.
That's your opinion but Matthews is a good defender and Kobe when he is going good will rip anyone in the league a new asshole. I have watch him last year 4-5 times and I liked his game without even thinking we were going to go for him as a FA this year. I think he is a good player and depending on how we use him if we even get him. I still think it is no better then a 50% chance of the Jazz not matching. I watch some of those games in the playoffs and Kobe did pretty good but was working hard to get his points against Matthews.
Your math is screwy. 1: Roy 2. Aldridge 3. Oden 4. Batum 5. Miller 6. Camby 7. Bayless 8. Fernandez 9. Williams 10. Babbitt 11. Przybilla 12. Cunningham 13. Pendergraph 14. Matthews* (assuming he doesn't get matched by Utah) Mills is RFA and Johnson is a 2nd round pick with no contract yet. Nevermind that the roster is now primed for a consolidation trade in the worst way.
