Grading the Atlanta Hawks’ surprising signing of Wesley Matthews
By Dalton Sell
As they aim to put the finishing touches on a retooled roster ahead of the 2023-24 NBA season, the Atlanta Hawks have added a veteran free agent.
According to ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, Atlanta has signed Wesley Matthews to an interesting one-year deal. The 36-year-old Matthews joins the Hawks following two years with the Milwaukee Bucks, where he was a key cog in their rotation. This is an eye-catching move for Atlanta that could potentially pay off in a big way down the line. With that said, let us look at the move by breaking down the financial aspect, fit, role, and more before giving it a letter grade.
The financial aspect of Wesley Matthews’ deal with the Atlanta Hawks
The financial figures have not yet been confirmed, but it’s expected that this deal is worth just the league minimum. Spotrac has it estimated at $3.2 million for one year. That’s standard procedure for a minimum deal, especially for a 14-year veteran, as his minimum deal will be higher than that of players with not as much experience.
As most minimum deals tend to be, this is incredibly low-risk for the Atlanta Hawks. They’re giving him the least amount of money they can offer and are only tied to him for this year. If Matthews is a fine player for the Hawks, he could be a great pickup on a team-friendly deal. If he struggles, the Hawks are only tied to him for this season and do not have to pay him a ton.
Financially, there’s nothing to dislike about this contract, as it’s about as team-friendly as it gets. Looking at the current state of the free agent market, there may be more recognizable names on the list, but Matthews is a solid pickup for the minimum.