Milwaukee Bucks Rumors: Wesley Matthews agrees to minimum deal
By Adam McGee
The Milwaukee Bucks have reportedly landed a major bargain with former Marquette standout Wesley Matthews set to sign on a veteran minimum deal.
With something of a hole on the roster in terms of veteran depth at shooting guard following the news that Malcolm Brogdon was headed for the Indiana Pacers, the Milwaukee Bucks were desperately in need of landing a bargain or two from the group of remaining free agents.
By all accounts, it seems as if Executive of the Year Jon Horst has managed to do exactly that, with Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reporting that Wesley Matthews has agreed to sign with Milwaukee on a veteran minimum contract.
Free agent G Wesley Matthews has agreed to a deal with the Milwaukee Bucks, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2019
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A former Wisconsin Mr. Basketball, rarely has that title been so apt for a single player. Wesley Matthews played his high school basketball at James Madison Memorial in Madison, before moving on to star at Marquette during his time in college.
Now, at 32 years of age, Matthews will get the chance to complete the high school, college and pro Wisconsin basketball triumvirate as he’ll suit up for the Bucks.
That chance to return home will very likely have played a major factor in Matthews’ decision, as according to Wojnarowski, he was a player in demand with multiple contenders.
The NBA's Executive of the Year Jon Horst did a tremendous job building out the Bucks bench a summer ago. Solid addition on a minimum deal here. Several contenders were in pursuit of Matthews, who played his college ball at Marquette. https://t.co/dDtcGdu8AI
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2019
Yet with news on Sunday night of Brogdon’s departure to the Pacers, Matthews’ most recent team, another appeal to signing with the Bucks will have emerged.
Matthews may not earn the kind of salary befitting of the role, but there’s an excellent chance that he could be a starter for the Bucks when preseason opens later in the year.
Matthews’ vast experience, size and skill would instantly make him the leading candidate to assume the starting shooting guard role, as he can offer the Bucks the kind of 3-and-D presence that they would have been working hard to obtain at that spot.
There’s a little bit more to Matthews’ game than the average 3-and-D role player, though, as he boasts the ability to create shots and playmake for teammates in spurts.
Joining Robin Lopez as one of two new faces coming to Milwaukee for next season, Matthews should have a great opportunity to really leave his mark with the Bucks, while also making a meaningful run at a championship as he approaches the latter stages of his career.
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The Bucks will hope to continue adding to their roster with more minimum bargains over the days and weeks ahead, but to begin with, Matthews makes for a real coup for Horst and the Bucks.