This franchise just gave Enes Kanter the same money as they let Wes Matthews walk for

Seems perfectly right to me. 23 year old 7 footer who is a elite post scorer and decent rebounder > old, achilles snapped 6'5 SG that can't create his own shot.

 

No need to denigrate Wes in order to make a point. Players at different stages of their careers fit better in differing team situations. The Blazers are changing up and going with a youth movement to build around Dame. They have no realistic chance at contending in the next 2-3 years. Bringing Wes back would have been a disservice to both him and the team. Assuming he comes back strong from his injury, Wes is in the prime of his career and needs a chance to be on the big stage. Dallas looked to be able to provide that when he agreed to sign. Not so much without Jordan, but the intentions were right.

 

other than calling a 28 year old "old", he didn't denigrate Wes. He is in fact a "achilles snapped 6'5 SG that can't create his own shot."

You know who Wes reminds me of? Brandon Roy. His heart told him he could still play even though he was done. Because of that he insisted on a very large contract. Even after he completely sucked and we amnestied him, his heart told him he could still play. He screwed the T-pups out of their MLE. Finally, he retired.

I hope I'm wrong, but if Wes gets injured in the next year, the parallels will be unfortunate.

 

16.1 PER for Wes
24.9 PER for Kanter

Younger, not coming off major injury, can play two positions....not seeing the reason for hate. His defense is poor, but his offense and rebounding more than make up for it

 

Me too! We're nowhere close to training camp, but I already have a weird feeling that this team is going to be like that team from several years ago that rattled off something like a 13 game winning streak with Travis Freaking Outlaw on the roster (starting?).
That's the thing with young teams - a little confidence goes a LONG way. I think it's dangerous for the organization or fans to base opinions/decisions off of the high times though - just gotta enjoy them while they last, but understand they aren't a true representation of the team.

 

Can Wes walk without limping already? If so then yes, yes they did.

 

It will take the other teams in the league half a season to know how to game plan for our new roster.

 

I'm not sure how that was denigrating Wes - it's just the truth. He is a SG that can't create his own shot and he just snapped his achilles. That's the truth. Wes is one of my favorite blazers of all time - but you can't give out 18 million dollars to everyone, especially one coming off of major surgery and already had limited offensive capabilities - and now his defense will be hindered.

 

"old, achilles snapped 6'5 SG that can't create his own shot."

Denigrate may be the wrong word, but you certainly didn't put him in the most flattering light. 28 isn't old, it's prime NBA age. Can't create his own shot? I think Harden might have a differing viewpoint on that statement given how Wes abused him posting him up in the 2014 playoffs. Wes has never had a situation where he was a major focus of the offense, so spot up shooting ws his forte with the Blazers and he's really good at it, but I don't think it's fair to try to stick him in just that box. The achilles injury is true, but he's already showing good signs that he's on the fast track to healing from it. It would be a gamble to bet on Wes, but he's shown many times before that he's a gamble worth taking.

 

To me Wes is not a guy you can replace for many reasons. Vocal leader on defense being a big part of it. Great 3 pt shooter, high basketball IQ, great character...I hope he rocks it in Dallas. I'll still watch him play. The logistics, favor airing on caution and going young moving forward.

 

That's because --as Olshey said in the article-- its the harsh truth. Achilles are NOT something to mess with. 28 might not be old, but you can't realistically think he will be 100% healthy for this entire season. He'll be 29 in october. So, given this is a "recuperating" year for him, he is 30 at the beginning of next season making 18 million. 30 is when you're realistically going to get him back, 100% healthy (however healthy 100% is after achilles surgery). He was already limited in creating his own shot. Sure, he can post up...but lets see him blow by someone off the dribble, lets see him crossover, spin move, stepback jumper. ANYTHING without him being in a set position. If he has to dribble - he is limited. That's just the fact of the matter & thats a big limitation for a SG (which was covered up by Batum being a great passer and ballhander for a SF).

I don't think paying 18 mill for a SG that you'd realistically have healthy at age 30, with this group of players, is even comparable to playing a 23 year old center who is on offensive force and solid rebounder. Additionally, you don't know how the achilles will affect Wes' defense. Love the dude, but as with all players, he has his limitations - and its a lot easier to find a middle aged SG than it is to find a 7' offensive beast. That's all my point was.

 

There are a whole lot of suppositions in there, but, for the record, I agree with you and Olshey that passing on giving Wes a new contract here was the right thing to do. Doesn't change the fact that I love the guy as a player and wish him great success. All things considered, he wasn't the right guy for where the Blazers are heading and the Blazers weren't the right team for a guy at his stage of his career.

 

On the off chance anyone actually read this, I just didn't want it to seem like I was hating on Wes. I was just answering the question in the OP as to why one is worth it for this team and why the other is not.

We went about it in different ways, I detailed, albeit briefly, why it isn't a really comparable situation -youth, health, 7'0 vs 6'5- and Wesleys limitations as a ball handler make it rather tough to play alongside dame without Batum.

I wish we could've kept him honestly - just at about half of what he got. His veteran presence would've been nice.

 

Seriously? Some of you would have given Wes 17.5 million per year?

 

I have to hand it to Wes and his Agent. They said they actually could see getting more money this off-season after the injury then before (due to our team performance showing how much we missed him). They were right. Of course, they were only right because of a crazy circumstance of a team getting left at the alter and having money burning a hole in their pocket.

And no, I wouldn't pay Wes that much. Love him, wish he would have stayed but I wouldn't have paid max even if he didn't get hurt.

 

All true. I was actually OK with letting him go...but I do wonder at the karmic implications.

 

No, I just would have given him more than Kanter.

 

I'm surprised he got even $12M, with that injury. His agent estimated the market very well.