Wes: 5yr, $34M

[brewnewsman]

Way to go Wes!

Yahoo:
Wesley Matthews has signed a 5-year, $34 million offer sheet with Portland, his agent, Lance Young, tells Y!

[StillAWarrior]

Way to go Wes!

Yahoo:
Wesley Matthews has signed a 5-year, $34 million offer sheet with Portland, his agent, Lance Young, tells Y!

Wow.  That's great.  From undrafted free agent to 5 years at $6 million plus per year.  That's awesome.

[NersEllenson]

Way to go Wes!

Yahoo:
Wesley Matthews has signed a 5-year, $34 million offer sheet with Portland, his agent, Lance Young, tells Y!

Does Utah get the opportunity to match that - or does this mean Wes is going to Portland?

[StillAWarrior]

Does Utah get the opportunity to match that - or does this mean Wes is going to Portland?

I'm fairly certain Utah gets a chance to match.

[brewnewsman]

Utah has seven days to match.  He seemed like a good fit there so hopefully they do.

[Pakuni]

Tough to say no to that kind of money, but you've got to believe Wes hopes Utah matches so he isn't stuck as Brandon Roy's backup for the next several years.

[nyg]

Utah has seven days to match.  He seemed like a good fit there so hopefully they do.

I hope so.  He goes to Portland, then he comes off the bench.  He doesn't beat out Brandon Roy at SG.  

[Pakuni]

Awesome factoid about the offer sheet: it calls for Wes to make $9.2 million next year, more than any player who actually was selected in the 2009 draft.
He who laughs last laughs best, I guess.

[GOMU1104]

Awesome factoid about the offer sheet: it calls for Wes to make $9.2 million next year, more than any player who actually was selected in the 2009 draft.
He who laughs last laughs best, I guess.

Its acually around double of what the #1 pick, Blake Griffin, will make. 

[GOO]

I doubt Wes is worried about being a backup. That should be way down the list when guaranteed money is involved.

[MUfan12]

Doesn't Utah have some space freed up with Korver and Boozer gone? Yet according to the Salt Lake Tribune beat writer it's far from a guarantee they'll match.

I'd much rather see him in Utah, but I'm thrilled that he's gonna get paid. Certainly earned it!

[GOMU1104]

Doesn't Utah have some space freed up with Korver and Boozer gone? Yet according to the Salt Lake Tribune beat writer it's far from a guarantee they'll match.

I'd much rather see him in Utah, but I'm thrilled that he's gonna get paid. Certainly earned it!

That organization is in terrible shape financially.

[Brewtown Andy]

My only concern is that the Blazers fired Kevin Pritchard because NBA writers kept talking about what a good job he was doing.

[MerrittsMustache]

Good for Wes! He and Roy could definitely see the court at the same time. Portland just traded Martell Webster and there are minutes to be had. Portland's potential 2/3's for next season...
Wes Matthews
Brandon Roy
Nic Batum
Luke Babbitt
Elliot Williams

Whether Utah matches or not, Wes should be in a good place to play. In terms of the $9.2M next season, many contracts for restricted FAs are front-loaded because it hurts the previous team the most in terms of cap space.

[77ncaachamps]

I hope they match.

I feel really bad for DWill.

He, not Chris Paul, may just end up leaving Utah for NYK. He's got NOTHING in Utah.

CJ Miles? AK47? Millsap? Koufos? Fesenko? I know it's not "nothing" but it's a far cry from Boozer, Wes, Korver...

[groove]

Portland pulled the same thing on Utah last season with an inflated offer sheet to Paul Millsap. Utah matched it. Wouldn't be surprised to see Utah pass on this one, 9.2 million for someone who hasn't even started a half season's worth of games. But I'm happy for Wes, win win situation for him.

[GGGG]

I love Wes, but that is a risky contract for Portland...or if Utah matches.  I guess in a league with 30 teams, you only need to find one buyer.

[Windyplayer]

So assuming Utah doesn't match Portland's offer, will Matthews and Diener be teammates or is Diener expected to be traded?

[pbiflyer]

Diener is currently a free agent. He only had a one year deal.

[Daniel]

Great for Wes!  His head must be spinning with excitement over this deal!  He deserves it and worked hard for it - keep it going Wes!

[patso]

Hopefully not Jim McIlvane #2

[avid1010]

I love Wes, but that is a risky contract for Portland...or if Utah matches.  I guess in a league with 30 teams, you only need to find one buyer.

You love Wes, but yet had to say something to defend your comments that Wes wasn't worth half of what he was just offered.  I guess in a league of 30 teams, Wes is worth more that you care to admit.  Risky?  You don't know that any more than you knew how much he was worth in free agency.

[GGGG]

You love Wes, but yet had to say something to defend your comments that Wes wasn't worth half of what he was just offered. 

When did I say that?

I'm sorry, but some here are questioning Salmons deal with the Bucks.  Salmons is a proven NBA player....Wes isn't...yet he's going to make just $6 million less over the course of the contract.

I'm just saying it's risky.

[HoopsMalone]

Portland must have liked what Wes showed in the playoffs covering Kobe and Carmello. 

Portland and OKC are the two teams that could challenge the Lakers soon.  Maybe not next season, but in two seasons if things keep trending the way that they are.  Even if Wes backs up Brandon Roy, he will see some strong minutes.

Portland also was one of the teams that the Bulls were trying to trade Deng to.  All the rumors had Portland's big center and a guard or two being sent to Chicago.  Wes would have a lot more room in the rotation if Portland did send a few guards to Chicago for Deng. 

[avid1010]

When did I say that?

I'm sorry, but some here are questioning Salmons deal with the Bucks.  Salmons is a proven NBA player....Wes isn't...yet he's going to make just $6 million less over the course of the contract.

I'm just saying it's risky.

Actually you didn't say half, you said less than half when you said, "Yeah...no way Matthews is a $3 M a year player at this point.  Too limited offensively."  

I'm not sure how risky of an offer it is.  Your comparison to Salmons is nice, but Portland wasn't offering him for a reason.  I can give you plenty of players who make that kind of money that never get off the bench, but that doesn't prove a point either.  The fact is Wesley is a young role player, that doesn't need the ball in his hands like a Salmons does.  He does many things that Salmons, or players like him, don't do, and for that reason he found a team very interested in his services.  Portland makes an offer to a solid role player that is young and has an upside.  They front loaded the contract, which makes me believe they really want him in a Portland jersey next year.  Is it risky to expect a rookie to continue playing at the level he did as a rookie?  If Wes does that, I think Portland comes out just fine, if he improves, they make out well.