Should we match Wesley Matthews offer sheet?

[Stifle Tower]

I think not matching is a better middle finger. I think Portland wants us to match.

I agree. Portland really didn't want to have Millsap. They're expecting us to match for Matthews.
Allen is pissed off at Utah and KOC for trading up and getting Deron. That has no doubt stuck in his craw and was something he never forgave, despite Pritchard making some very deft trades later on to build that team.

Remember, under Allen's direction Portland threatened to sue anyone who signed D. Miles. He's a vengeful man who bristles at the thought of being swindled. He's also extremely petty (viz him not letting Pritchard sit near him the last few weeks of the season).

BUt I'm surprised Portland seems to be focusing their attention on Utah. Shouldn't they be more preoccupied with the Lakers, OKC or Denver? Dunno...maybe Allen hates the state or the people in it - and by extension, "their" team. Or maybe he feels Utah is the one franchise he can drive out of contention, as Miller can't exceed the luxury tax for more than a coupel of years.

In any case, Wesley is a nice player, but not at $7M. Re-sign Brewer or another decent wing. Then have CJ start at SG and AK at SF. Hayward will get more minutes than planned, but he's the #9 pick, so let him prove himself. We'll be worse off, initially, but we have the TPE's and AK's expiring to acquire a starting SG or SF if/when someone becomes available near the deadline.

 

[Shaggy]

Maybe they want Wes to drive Kobe crazy. Paul Allen has money and doesn't care to waste it.

 

[memo is money]

I voted YES because I like what he does on the floor and I don't care what the numbers on the contract are. In fact I'm so sick of the NBA being all about contracts and not about the product on the floor. That's what leads to LeBlo Job having an hour-long special devoted to him and his decision to go South Beach for a threesome with two other dudes. I'm sick of players being talked up as assets because they signed a really big six-year contract five years ago, even though they haven't been able to play at an NBA level for four years. I'm sick of teams being able to trade one of the biggest busts in draft history and the assistant coach of another team for an All-Star, just because the values of their last contracts match. I'm sick of Free Agents saying they want maximum money but only from a contender, when a player who is worth that money should make ANY team a contender. I'm sick of teams being able to ignore the luxury tax because their owner is richer or they're in a bigger media market than other teams. I'm sick of having to do the work of an accountant in order to follow my favorite sport, I wouldn't want to be an accountant as a job, why the fudge would I want to be an accountant to understand my favorite pastime??

In a way, I'm actually really, really looking forward to the lockout, and hoping the new CBA stops this crap where a player's salary is more important than his statistics. I want the NBA to be about basketball not accounting. However, ina way I'm dreading it, because with a lawyer in charge of the league, I doubt the new CBA will be better

Yeah I'm ranting and getting off-topic, sorry about that. But I liked watching Wes play for Utah last year. I don't care what they pay him, to me its worth it just to keep that story continuing.

Lastly, if it makes you feel better, add his last season's salary to the offer and divide it by the extra year, and he looks much better value.

+1

 

[Stifle Tower]

Good post, mantis. Definitely going to get some reps for that one.

To play devils' advocate to my initial post, I could see the Jazz matching Wes' contract. Two important questions to be answered are:
1) Will the offense be more diverse with Boozer gone?
2) Are they planning to make AK an offer next season?

If the answer to #1 is Yes, then Matthews could easily increase his scoring average to 14-18 pts. He only played 25 mins/per in the regular season, averaging 7 shots per game. The Jazz have said all along that Wesleey would get more minutes in 2010-11.

Matthews' shooting percentage was terrific at 48% - higher than DWade, Johnson, Roy, Ginobili, Crawford, Allen, etc. Now I'm not saying he's going to be a superstar, but if he keeps that % high, is $7M too much for a starter who puts up 16 pts/per and also plays good defense? Maybe not.

If the answer to #2 is no, then the Jazz are looking at a 2/3 rotation of Matthews, CJ and Hayward. You can give each 32 mins after this season and justify having one of those guys making $7M. And CJ potetnially leaves in a couple of years. At least you'd have 2 starters locked up in Matthews and Hayward.


One point AGAINST matching Matthews is IF the Jazz believe Hayward can be an eventual starter at SG. I think this is what KOC dreamed of. He mentioned before the draft that if you had the chance to draft a guy who could create a serious mismatch, then you'd have to consider it. I think he was referring to Hayward going against SG's 3 inches shorter. If Gordon could just play adequate defense, imagine a backcourt of Deron and Hayward. Both those guys could post up most of their oppnents at will.

 

[Revolution 9]

We've got to pass. Let Portland be over the cap for a back up.

Time to look for another Dleague steal, or give a guy like Paul Harris a chance in camp.

 

[Jazz4ever]

I voted YES because I like what he does on the floor and I don't care what the numbers on the contract are. In fact I'm so sick of the NBA being all about contracts and not about the product on the floor. That's what leads to LeBlo Job having an hour-long special devoted to him and his decision to go South Beach for a threesome with two other dudes. I'm sick of players being talked up as assets because they signed a really big six-year contract five years ago, even though they haven't been able to play at an NBA level for four years. I'm sick of teams being able to trade one of the biggest busts in draft history and the assistant coach of another team for an All-Star, just because the values of their last contracts match. I'm sick of Free Agents saying they want maximum money but only from a contender, when a player who is worth that money should make ANY team a contender. I'm sick of teams being able to ignore the luxury tax because their owner is richer or they're in a bigger media market than other teams. I'm sick of having to do the work of an accountant in order to follow my favorite sport, I wouldn't want to be an accountant as a job, why the fudge would I want to be an accountant to understand my favorite pastime??

In a way, I'm actually really, really looking forward to the lockout, and hoping the new CBA stops this crap where a player's salary is more important than his statistics. I want the NBA to be about basketball not accounting. However, ina way I'm dreading it, because with a lawyer in charge of the league, I doubt the new CBA will be better

Yeah I'm ranting and getting off-topic, sorry about that. But I liked watching Wes play for Utah last year. I don't care what they pay him, to me its worth it just to keep that story continuing.

Lastly, if it makes you feel better, add his last season's salary to the offer and divide it by the extra year, and he looks much better value.

No one really cares about your morale standpoint on the CBA. It is entertainment to us fans - we have no vested financial interest.

 

[Jazz4ever]

Good post, mantis. Definitely going to get some reps for that one.

To play devils' advocate to my initial post, I could see the Jazz matching Wes' contract. Two important questions to be answered are:
1) Will the offense be more diverse with Boozer gone?
2) Are they planning to make AK an offer next season?

If the answer to #1 is Yes, then Matthews could easily increase his scoring average to 14-18 pts. He only played 25 mins/per in the regular season, averaging 7 shots per game. The Jazz have said all along that Wesleey would get more minutes in 2010-11.

In regard to #1 yes the offense will be more diverse, but also less effecient. Lets face it Boozer drew double teams, and its the reason why Matthews shot so well. He was assisted on 75% of his shots, so with Booz gone he will suffer in effeciency if the Jazz decided to mtach.

 

[DutchJazzer]

where's the option to vote "I dont care jazz front office got what they deserve serve them right. hopefully they learned their lesson"

 

[mfree]

Quoting from the SLTrib:

Although his contract is frontloaded, Matthews would only count $5.765 million in luxury-tax calculations. Should they re-sign him, the Jazz would have $64.8 million committed to nine players for this season. The tax threshold is $70.307 million.

Since the contract only counts the mid-level against the cap, I think the chances of the Jazz matching go way up.

I was thinking it counted $9.2m, making it nearly impossible to add another player. With this information, i think the Jazz will match.

 

[billyshelby]

Quoting from the SLTrib:

Although his contract is frontloaded, Matthews would only count $5.765 million in luxury-tax calculations. Should they re-sign him, the Jazz would have $64.8 million committed to nine players for this season. The tax threshold is $70.307 million.

Since the contract only counts the mid-level against the cap, I think the chances of the Jazz matching go way up.

I was thinking it counted $9.2m, making it nearly impossible to add another player. With this information, i think the Jazz will match.

I'd rather go into the season shorthanded than pay Wes that deal. That same article explains that the last 3 years on the contract run 6/6.5/7 approximately. Think about that. If Wes doesn't improve and just stays the same player, he will be completely unmoveable in deals. And it's not just the salary, it's the pro-rated signing bonus which increases the Cap Hit. It's just silly to think the Jazz will match (not that they won't because who knows what they're thinking.)