Plus he has to realize that his role with the Jazz could change just as easily over the next 5 years. Nothing stays the same
Oh shit, I forgot about this part: If I remember correctly the Jazz Ownership isn't exactly super solvent and they had to shake out quite a few seat cushions last year to get Millsap paid.
I'm leaning more and more this way. I'd been opposed before, but I think you ride with Batum on the opponents best wing player next season, regardless of the position. Most teams don't have a dominant point AND wing. Against N.O., he covers Paul, he's a waste on Posey or whoever. You have Matthews rotate to the second best guy, and Roy slack off, and maybe play the passing lanes, gamble on some steals more. With Oden and Camby behind them, we have the shot blocking to make up for getting beat, so what the hell. Also, you can pass on the seemingly 10 year search of a PG of the future.
Those agents are likely doing that because their clients are free agents nex season, and they know they'll get a toxic offer from the Blazers.
Blazers sign Wes Matthews to an offer sheet! Fail. Look harder. >_< I just figured I'd start a thread that might get 6 pages of replies, then someone else can make a topic about the same thing hours later. Then I could edit my post a couple times, ramble on about nothing important, then eventually, someone would delete the thread, as it is useless. What do you think?
I know Kevin O'Connor hates to be "bullied" (as he said last year) but I would not doubt that they go back to Ronnie Brewer instead, like JRay alluded to. He was a fan favorite and a good friend of DWILL
The ultimate "eff you" is the fact that for two years in a row the Jazz have to come up with about ten million apiece in loose change to pay the signing bonuses for both Millsap and now Matthews. The Miller's have most of their cash tied up in their car dealerships and don't exactly have a ton of liquid money to make the payment that is due two weeks from now. I can't remember for the life of me how they came up with the money for Millsap's bonus, but I seem to recall they came into some kind of windfall that got them enough to pay him up front -- could have been tax payments for getting under the cap?
I think this can be a very good signing. I don't really care about the money as it allows a Batumn and Odens's extentions to be made easier. I can see how this would help keep Greg out of foul trouble as well. Roy as point in the fourth and Mathews, and Batum on the wing or point guard and this is a great defensive team. Mathews or Batumn playing off Roy is not bad folks.
Crap, $9.2 million in the first year? Matthews did good for himself. Watching these highlights when he had 20 against NOH, reminds me of a shorter, non-crazy version of Ron Artest with the broad shoulders, not that fastest guy but is in control of himself, and he can hit the open J. [video=youtube;sd6JWErfB24]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sd6JWErfB24[/video]
He started for the Jazz and played 37 mpg in the playoffs. Why would he want to come off of the bench behind Brandon Roy, and he had better not take minutes away from Batum and Bayless, who are both better players and younger than Matthews, who will be 24 years old when the season starts.
[video=youtube;X8S9JOngLIk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8S9JOngLIk&feature=player_embedded[/video] Watch this one. He looks pretty fast to me. But it is rejection on Kobe I like best.
If true, and if Utah doesn't match, this is by far the most ridiculous signing of the off-season. It's embarrassing to us all.