NBA PM: Matthews Has Something to Prove

Matthews Has Something to Prove

Wesley Matthews was one of the most interesting free agents available this summer.

In recent years, he emerged as one of the best two-way shooting guards in the NBA and a huge contributor for the Portland Trail Blazers. Last season, Matthews averaged 15.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 steals while hitting 2.9 three-pointers per game at a 38.9 percent clip. Not to mention, he’s known for being an excellent teammate and glue guy.

However, his 2014-15 season ended prematurely when the 28-year-old tore the Achilles tendon in his left leg on March 5. That’s an awful injury to sustain just before free agency, as there is a long list of players who have failed to return to form after tearing their Achilles.

Some players don’t play in the NBA again (Isiah Thomas, Jamie Feick, Jerome James, Laron Profit, etc.). Some players return, only to end their career shortly after because they struggle and can’t stay healthy (Chauncey Billups, Voshon Leonard, Mehmet Okur, DeSagana Diop, etc.). Some players continue playing, but never return to their same pre-injury level (Elton Brand, Laphonso Ellis, Christian Laettner, Maurice Taylor, etc.). Many teams see an Achilles injury and get scared off.

Fortunately for the Matthews, the injury didn’t prevent him from getting a big payday; he received a four-year, $70 million contract from the Dallas Mavericks.

Now, he’s determined to prove Dallas made the right decision and silence the doubters who say that he won’t be the same player.

“Maybe this [injury] happened to continue my push, continue my drive,” Matthews said in a must-read interview with Jason Quick of The Oregonian. “Maybe I was getting too content. Maybe I was resting on everything that I had done. I felt myself getting to the point of being entitled.”

Matthews is excited to join the Mavericks and take on a bigger role. Interestingly, he stated that this is the first time he feels he has an organizations full support.

“One of the first things [Mark Cuban] said to me was he wanted me to be a cornerstone piece of that franchise moving forward,” Matthews told Quick. “I told Cuban this the other day: This is the first time, head-to-toe, that an organization has had faith and confidence in me. From coaches, to GM to owner — complete confidence. That’s all I wanted. That’s all I wanted.”

The Blazers didn’t make Matthews an offer this summer, even though the veteran shooting guard had been in Portland for five seasons and played very well. That’s because the team decided to go young after LaMarcus Aldridge decided to walk to the San Antonio Spurs in free agency, as general manager Neil Olshey explained here.

While it’s understandable why Portland let their other veterans sign elsewhere, Matthews was still hurt by their decision because he wanted to continue playing with the Blazers.

“I was pissed off,” Matthews told Quick. “I felt disrespected. … I was angry, but I also realize that this is a business.”

Shortly after, he watched free agents like DeMarre Carroll and Khris Middleton agree to huge contracts.

“No knock on them, but I’m taking me 10 times out of 10 over them,” Matthews told Quick. “There was a time when I was undeniable in the NBA; you could not deny me. Everything that happened to me before, I was able to get to this point because of my passion, my motive.”

Matthews eventually got a monster contract himself, but that didn’t happen until DeAndre Jordan decided to spurn the Mavericks for the Los Angeles Clippers.

Initially, Matthews’ deal was supposed to be four years, $57 million. However, when Jordan left, the Mavs increased his four-year deal to $70 million. Still, Matthews tried to talk Jordan into staying.

“I was honest with him,” Matthews said of his talk with Jordan. “I said, ‘Look man, I would make less money if you come here and I’m begging you to come here. Begging you. I think that shows what I’m about.'”

Jordan obviously decided to return to Los Angeles, making Matthews the Mavericks’ biggest signing of the summer. He’s looking forward to taking on more responsibilities in Dallas and showing that he can be the same player (or better) after recovering from his torn Achilles ahead of schedule.

“I have so much more I want to do; I’m not resting on what I’ve done,” Matthews said. “And now, I have a complete franchise backing me. Imagine what kind of dog I will be now.”

New Episode of the Basketball Insiders Podcast

If you missed it, a new episode of the Basketball Insiders podcast dropped last night. In this episode, Jessica Camerato and I discuss the rookies we’re most excited to watch and cover this season, the state of the Boston Celtics, the best remaining free agents on the market and much more. Listen here: