The J-Notes
Fansided

Utah Jazz: 15 realistic free agency options post-Conley trade

By Ryan Aston

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 16: DeMarre Carroll #9 of the Brooklyn Nets guards Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz during a game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 16, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 16: DeMarre Carroll #9 of the Brooklyn Nets guards Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz during a game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 16, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
12 of 16
Next
Wesley Matthews Indiana Pacers NBA Playoffs
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 21: Wesley Matthews #23 of the Indiana Pacers celebrates against the Boston Celtics in game four of the first round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on April 21, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Wesley Mathews

Even now, nearly 10 years after the fact, the Jazzland masses get soft, fuzzy feelings when they think about Wesley Matthews‘ lone season in Utah. He may be the team’s ultimate underdog story; a guy who went from being undrafted to starting, banging down Js and locking up some talented offensive players for a playoff team as a rookie.

Next to Donovan Mitchell, he’s probably the team’s best rookie performer of the last decade.

Fast-forward to now and he’s a wily vet. The mileage on his tires and an Achilles rupture in 2015 have slowed him a bit, but he’s still a plus defender, a high-IQ guy and a capable 3-point shooter.

Last year, he caught on with the Indiana Pacers after jumping around the Association and was a huge addition after Victor Oladipo went down. Matthews started all 23 of his games in Indy, played more than 30 minutes a night and averaged 11 points and three dimes per game while hitting 37 percent from three.

In a hypothetical return to Salt Lake City, he wouldn’t be asked to do near as much for the Jazz, but could certainly be counted on to step up and do so in a pinch. There will probably be a litany of contenders attempting to bring the unrestricted free agent into the fold.

Home/Jazz News