Portland looking at Wes

[HoopsMalone]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AvhHXQsxji94wO7uCVeOwve8vLYF?slug=ys-freeagentbuzz063010

Wes getting a look from another team.  Hopefully he gets a nice payday with other teams looking.  I would not mind seeing him come back east.

[g0lden3agle]

I hope he ends up either back on the Jazz, or another team that prides itself in gritty, hard-working players.  I just think he could not have been in a better situation for his first year, and would hate to see a sophomore slump while he was on some garbage organization like the Trail Blazers.

[Brewtown Andy]

Legit look or just trying to screw over Utah?

[MUBurrow]

I dont think Portland would be a bad spot for him, but he would have to fight for playing time again walking into a new system and all.  But the team they are building isnt your jailblazers anymore.  Although questions about their owner after firing one of the better GMs in basketball that turned over a sub .500 jailblazers team into a young contender in a handful of years.  This despite the fact that he really had no choice but to draft Greg Oden. 

[4everwarriors]

He'll be back with the Jazz. They'll match any offer Wes would get.

[MUBurrow]

utah will be oozing money after they loose Boozer, right?

[avid1010]

Legit look or just trying to screw over Utah?

If the only way they can screw over Utah is to put the money on the table.  That's a mighty big bluff if they don't mean it.

[bma725]

Strange that Portland is looking at players when they fired their GM an hour before the draft and they haven't named a replacement yet.  Not sure if it would be a good idea to sign with a team like that even if they are improved from the Jail Blazers days.  Plus, they've got Jerryd Bayless, Andre Miller, Brandon Roy, Patty Mills, Elliot Williams and Rudy Fernandez at the guard spots, so there may not be as much opportunity for playing time.

[MUBurrow]

thats a good point on the depth.  Roy is one of the ten best players in the league, Fernandez gets a lot of time, Bayless has a lot of potential (i think he sort of got lost in the shuffle) and they obviously see something in Williams.  Thats four guys who play the 2 almost exclusively and all could get some minutes.

[reinko]

thats a good point on the depth.  Roy is one of the ten best players in the league, Fernandez gets a lot of time, Bayless has a lot of potential (i think he sort of got lost in the shuffle) and they obviously see something in Williams.  Thats four guys who play the 2 almost exclusively and all could get some minutes.

False.

In no specific order.  LeBron, Kobe, Rondo, Howard, Wade, Dirk, Nash, Durant, Carmello, Paul, Deron, Bosh, Rose.

[Lennys Tap]

False.

In no specific order.  LeBron, Kobe, Rondo, Howard, Wade, Dirk, Nash, Durant, Carmello, Paul, Deron, Bosh, Rose.

Agree, and I'd add Pau Gasol to that list.

[avid1010]

False.

In no specific order.  LeBron, Kobe, Rondo, Howard, Wade, Dirk, Nash, Durant, Carmello, Paul, Deron, Bosh, Rose.

Jumping the gun with Rondo...he has to be able to keep his defender honest, rather than 3 steps off, before I'd put him in the top 10.  If I was taking point guards, I'd take Wes' teammate over Rondo.

[Hards Alumni]

Jumping the gun with Rondo...he has to be able to keep his defender honest, rather than 3 steps off, before I'd put him in the top 10.  If I was taking point guards, I'd take Wes' teammate over Rondo.

He said no specific order.

and he included Deron.

[GOO]

Does Wes really care where he plays, if he gets a 3 year or more guaranteed contract at say 3 to 5 million per year versus playing for the Jazz for a year at 500K?  I'd take any offer and I'd be praying for any offer, regardless of the team and hope the Jazz match.  And if they don't match, so be it, set for life.  I'd beg Portland for a nice offer if I tought it would help.  Who cares if you get PT or are on a winning team.  Save that for later, now it's time to take care of Wes financially, without concern for the other stuff.  

[mklenn]

i can't believe someone put rondo in the top 10 in the league. a PG who can't hit a free throw or any shot outside the lane cannot be in the top 10.

[flash]

i can't believe someone put rondo in the top 10 in the league. a PG who can't hit a free throw or any shot outside the lane cannot be in the top 10.

+1

Rondo is a spectacular point guard but there is no way he is NBA top 10 material. 

[avid1010]

He said no specific order.

and he included Deron.

Yeah...completely missed that.  Still wouldn't go with Rondo until he improves his shot.  

[HouWarrior]

wes will surely get his $5mil/year--either in contract for 2-3 years(many teams, incl utah) or 5 years(likely utah only--cba motivation)
after this crazy free agency group shakes out---
many teams (regardless of cap) have a mid level exception available to them (about $5.5 mil/yr --2 year deal)--wes is very very attractive for a mid level offer---once he's offered utah will match--recall...they traded brewer during this season--in full confidence in wes as their starter---its just a matter of time/priority of signings
by august 1 lets guess he'll be fullly set--most likely w/utah--sloan loves the guy's play

[ErickJD08]

+1

Rondo is a spectacular point guard but there is no way he is NBA top 10 material. 

Shaq couldn't hit a FT.  Rondo would average triple doubles in individual series.  He is really good.  He was the most critical player for a team that went to the Finals and almost beat the Lakers.  He is really good.

[jaygall31]

I hope he ends up either back on the Jazz, or another team that prides itself in gritty, hard-working players.  I just think he could not have been in a better situation for his first year, and would hate to see a sophomore slump while he was on some garbage organization like the Trail Blazers.

+1. perfectly said.

[HoopsMalone]

I was checking out the Chris Paul rumors about his trade and Portland is one of the teams with a shot at him because they can also take on Okafur's contract.  Portland would send a boat load of players with expiring contracts in the next two seasons, many of them guards.  New Orleans would have $25 million in cap room next summer if it happened.

Chris Paul at the 1 and Wes Matthews in the rotation with Brandon Roy and all those you interior players would form a strong core.  With Amare, Boozer,  and maybe even Melo possibly leaving the west, Portland would give the Lakers a strong challenge after adding Paul.  Maybe they think Wes covers Kobe as good or better than someone else especially now that Ruben "the Kobe Stopper" Patterson is gone.

[martyconlonontherun]

I dont think Portland would be a bad spot for him, but he would have to fight for playing time again walking into a new system and all.  But the team they are building isnt your jailblazers anymore.  Although questions about their owner after firing one of the better GMs in basketball that turned over a sub .500 jailblazers team into a young contender in a handful of years.  This despite the fact that he really had no choice but to draft Greg Oden. 

KP was fired for other reasons besides his draft picks and trades. He seemed like a shady and polarizing figure. Not saying I would want to work with Allen, but he wrote his ticket out.

i can't believe someone put rondo in the top 10 in the league. a PG who can't hit a free throw or any shot outside the lane cannot be in the top 10.

After watching the Cavs series, I can see why he would be in someones top 10. It's amazing the plays he made without having a defender have to guard him tight because of a lack of a J. I wouldn't be surprised if he wa an MVP candidate in 2 years.

[Ready2Fly]

KP was fired for other reasons besides his draft picks and trades. He seemed like a shady and polarizing figure. Not saying I would want to work with Allen, but he wrote his ticket out.
After watching the Cavs series, I can see why he would be in someones top 10. It's amazing the plays he made without having a defender have to guard him tight because of a lack of a J. I wouldn't be surprised if he wa an MVP candidate in 2 years.

Agreed.  I've never seen anyone get such little respect for his jumper.  Defenders were giving him 5-7 feet of space, and he was still torching them.  If he could ever get a jumper down, he would be unstoppable.  He's a pure basketball player that does everything (besides drain jumpers) to win.