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.
Assessing Wesley Matthews’ fit and role with the Atlanta Hawks
In today’s NBA, wings are becoming more and more important with each passing hour, it seems. Matthews won’t be the needle-tipping addition for the Atlanta Hawks, but he can help as they look to keep their wing depth stocked at all times. Even at 36 years old, he can still produce when given an opportunity on the court in some capacity as well.
The biggest area Matthews will help the Hawks is defensively. Over the last two seasons, he was one of the Milwaukee Bucks’ primary defenders against top-notch wings. When Jayson Tatum or Kevin Durant came to town, Matthews oftentimes spent plenty of time guarding them. The wing will be tasked with doing the same for the Hawks, which could make him a very quality addition as they look to be more improved on defense next season.
At one time in his career, Matthews was also a very reliable outside shooter. He’s been streaky in recent memory, but it would certainly help if he can find a groove from the perimeter in Atlanta. He’d be yet another outside threat on the roster.
Matthews will not be leaping Bogdan Bogdanovic, De’Andre Hunter, Saddiq Bey, or any of Atlanta’s other primary wings in the rotation. However, there is certainly room for him to get minutes due to the aforementioned defense he will provide. He’ll likely see somewhere around 10-15 minutes per game, primarily when there are tough matchups on the wing afoot. Having him around could take significant pressure off of players like Bogdanovic or Bey when they are on the court together.
In short, Matthews is a great fit, and he’ll fit nicely into the rotation, even in a smaller role.
What does Wesley Matthews’ long-term outlook with Atlanta Hawks look like?
At 36 years old, it’s not like Matthews has a decade left of basketball left to be played in his career; there’s a reason this is a one-year deal. The veteran is trying to lay it all out on the line in the final stages of his career, and he’s taking it one year at a time. With that said, there is no clear long-term outlook, but there is potential to be.
For now, this deal is absolutely a short-term signing. However, if Matthews plays well enough this season and showcases that he still can help a team succeed, then he could absolutely stick around for more. Matthews won’t be signing any long-term deals with the Hawks, but he could be a piece they decide to keep around beyond this coming season if he performs well enough.
At this point, the Hawks will be taking it one season at a time, but the door is open for Matthews to stick around in Atlanta for more than just this season. The veteran finishing up his NBA career with the Hawks seems like a legitimate possibility, but only time will tell.
Grading the Atlanta Hawks’ signing of free agent guard Wesley Matthews
This particular move is the clear-cut definition of a low-risk signing for the Atlanta Hawks.
Financially, Matthews is costing the team essentially nothing in NBA terms, and he fills a major hole in terms of another big-wing defender. If he lives up to that defensive stature and gives the Hawks a boost on that side of things, this deal could end up becoming tremendous value-wise in the blink of an eye. If not, it’s not like the Atlanta Hawks are paying him an absurd amount.
At the bare minimum, Matthews will be a nice veteran presence who can also provide some wing depth for the Hawks. The best-case scenario is that Matthews provides excellent defense against other wings whenever he steps on the court, which would make him a nice piece off of the bench. It could truly swing either way, but it’s a nice gamble for the Hawks with little to no risk involved.
This signing won’t end up on any “10 best signings of 2023 NBA Free Agency” list, but it’s a solid move for the Atlanta Hawks as they look to compete for a championship next season.
Grade: B+
Stay tuned for more Atlanta Hawks analysis, breakdowns, and rumblings this off-season.