I'm not much in the bulusinesz of caring too much about what to pay our players. Just get us the players. And I laugh at all of these people that say stuff like "he's not worth that much." Well the market just said he's worth that much. That's how free markets work.
I think we match it. We simply cannot put in the scouting, training, and grooming work on a player just to let some other team come along and cherry pick it away.
This is not the Millsap situation. With Millsap, the Jazz had three years of data. They had a player who had demonstrated not just an ability to start, but start at a high level. Millsap is also a genuine NBA athlete, and a big man (cue the jokes), and big men come at a premium. They could reasonably project Millsap to be well worth that offer sheet.
Matthews is the opposite. They have one year of data. They have a player who started by default, filled his role admirably, but has clear deficiencies. He's barely an average NBA athlete. And he plays a position where there are always bargains.
Separate the emotion, and this is a no brainer. Bid Wes luck, and spend the money elsewhere on better values.
Sooner or later Paul Allen will figure out that he's barking up the wrong tree and try to cherry pick somebody else's players.
The Jazz may be overpaying for Wes, but they need to sack-up and match this offer. Here's why:
#1- Even though Ronnie Brewer had his flaws, he was a good player for this team, this system and was a moral booster for out best player. The Jazz traded Ronnie specifically because of what Wes was starting to give them on the court. Trading Ronnie was the Jazz's way of saying that they felt Wes was the starting SG of the future for this orginization.
#2- They let Korver and Boozer walk without putting up a fight. While I agree with those decisions, you can't spend the entire offseason letting other teams pillage your roster. It sends the wrong message to your fans, as well as the other GM's around the league.
#3- Is a $33 million deal too much for Wes? Yes and no. At over 9 million, it's certainly too much for the first year (nearly 30% of the contract is that 1st year alone), but Utah needs to just bite down hard and bear it through the first year of his contract much like they did with Millsaps. After that, it's a much easier contract to swallow.
#4- Portland is a division rival with a rich A-hole of an owner who thinks the can eventually put the screws to a small market division foe like Utah. Show him for a 2nd consecutive year that he's simply not going to swoop in and steal the talent that the franchise spent serious time and effort acquiring and cultivating. Sooner or later Paul Allen will figure out that he's barking up the wrong tree and try to cherry pick somebody else's players.
Daniels was a clown with poor work habits, loved partying and was injured prone. There are plenty of guys who continue to play well after getting a contract so what gives you a feeling that Wes will just tank it after getting his contract. There are zero signs he would do it.
#2- They let Korver and Boozer walk without putting up a fight. While I agree with those decisions, you can't spend the entire offseason letting other teams pillage your roster. It sends the wrong message to your fans, as well as the other GM's around the league.
No, but Matthews has shown that he can be a decent starter.
Utah should've known to offer more than a 1-year deal originally.
do anyone think utah might do a sign in trade with portland...wes mathews for nicolas batum and jeff pendergraph so at least utah gets something in return