Wes Matthew Player Preview

by clarkpojo on Oct 29, 2009 7:03 PM MDT Comment 4 comments

I couldn't even find a picture of Wes Matthews as a Jazzman

If you google Wesley Matthews Jr you wont find very much. He grew up in Madison, Wisconsin and was Mr Basketball of the state his senior year in high school. And he was part of the three guard rotation used at Marquette University along with Dominic James and Jerel McNeal. I have heard about those other two guys, but until about a month ago, I had never heard of Wesley Matthews in my life. And that is the best part of his story.

Wesley Matthews is as unlikely a person to make the Jazz roster as I can think of. He shot on the scene after being invited to the Jazz training camp. He is an undrafted rookie. In some ways, everything had to go right for Matthews to stay with the team. The absence of CJ Miles and Kyle Korver has made a wing a necessity for the team. And that wing has to be able to shoot. Matthews shot 4-9 from the 3 point line in the preseason and showed that he was willing to play defense. He has an NBA body at 6 foot 5, 220 pounds.

Would Matthews have made the roster if CJ Miles and Kyle Korver hadn't have gone down? Probably not. But I think Matthews is the best option at this point. First of all, he isn't going to play much. He is an insurance policy. You don't buy insurance with the idea of using it. But you want to be covered in case you need it. I was shocked when he played those couple of minutes on opening night. Secondly, he is the cheapest type of player the Jazz can pay to play. He costs the rookie minimum. Third, his contract isn't fully guaranteed until January. So the Jazz can rent him on a day by day basis until the shooters come back healthy.

That is why I don't think that there is to much to write about Wesley Matthews Jr. He won't be around after a month or two. As soon as Miles and/or Korver is back contributing, the Jazz can cut costs and cut Matthews. But all is not lost for Wesley. The Jazz will always need players who are ready to play, on the cheap. And I think if he develops his game and stays in touch with the team, he may end up being a real, contributing player for this team in a year or two.

Just don't call him Wes. He apparently hates it.

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