Before Wesley Matthews, the team’s heart and soul, went down with a devastating torn Achilles, the Portland Trail Blazers looked to be in the midst of a season that could’ve very well ended in triumph. Instead, the Blazers season came to a close at the hands of first-round opponent Memphis, a Grizzlies team that managed to prevail without the presence of injured star point guard Mike Conley. And now, forced to vacation earlier in spring than they expected, what’s sure to be a busy offseason begins, with uncertainty surrounding Matthews future. He’s not the only one in this position. There are other players situations that need to be taken care of—six others—namely Robin Lopez, Arron Afflalo and of course LaMarcus Aldridge, the cream of the crop and the team’s foundation, but Matthews is priority 1a. Answers to their many questions loom, but will the Blazers get the ones they desire?
Prior to his injury, Matthews was looking like a sure bet for two things: a monstrous and well-deserved payday as a free-agent, and for that money to come from Portland. And while the Blazers seem to stand by their guard who was having an incredibly successful season prior to his crumbling to the ground, the injury might complicate things. Coming back from a torn Achilles is no small feat, and, despite his desire to return by summer’s change into fall, there are likely more months than he envisions left in his recovery. He’s determined, and nicknamed “Ironman” for a reason, but while he wants to get on the court as soon as possible this isn’t something that’s worth rushing. When looking beyond his undeniable talent and focusing solely on the seriousness of this injury, Matthews is sure to get diminished offers thrown his way.
He averaged nearly 16 points per game this season before the debilitating March 5th injury, with the elite defensive prowess and very consistent three-point stroke. The numbers, though superb, don’t do him justice. Considering what he is capable of when healthy, teams are surely going to be interested, and Portland will undoubtedly be the front-runner. Matthews’ heart appears to be in Portland, if his Instagram posts documenting his rehab are any suggestion, and it’s hard not to see the Blazers doing all they can to show him he’s wanted.
After the Blazers season came to an end, The Oregonian‘s Joe Freeman tweeted the following about Matthews, an unrestricted free-agent: Wesley Matthews said in an ‘ideal, perfect situation,’ he would return to Blazers. But he added a lot can happen between before next year.”
A lot definitely can, but it’s hard to find any team willing to invest as much as Portland in free-agency. While other teams are skeptical of how post-injury Matthews will fair, the Blazers have done everything to indicate they plan on keeping him without a dip in confidence.
General Manager Neil Olshey spoke to the Portland Tribune‘s Kerry Eggers this past week after the season came to an untimely close, left with the reality that half his roster will be unrestricted free-agents come July 1st. Olshey spoke about many of the seven, including Matthews, who drew his praise:
“As evidenced by our 11-15 record (actually 11-16) without Wesley and a first-round playoff exit for a team we thought had chance to compete for the Western Conference title, we know how important he is,” Olshey says. “We know his value to us; we also know he’s going to have market value around the league.”
Matthews expects to resume basketball activities in August, and given his style of play and overall mentality it can be also expected that he can regain at least most of his form. When asked by reporters if he could come back 100 percent, he said this to reporters: “It’s a legitimate question,” he says. “It’s a legitimate fear. I just don’t have (a fear). I think of ways I’m going to be better. I’m going to be 150 percent.”
That’s the kind of mindset that makes him so beloved. Portland should buy into that confidence and, helped by the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, give him what his pre-injury presence deserves. Portland’s decline in production and, in turn, wins following Matthews injury showed just how valuable he was. The team might look very different next year, with so many players free to sign elsewhere, but a good start is recognizing if value if they want any chance of keeping the core intact and make more than just a little noise in the playoffs in the years to come.
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