Wesley Matthews will have a compelling decision to make regarding his $2.7 million player option with the Milwaukee Bucks next season.
After spending one season with the Milwaukee Bucks, 34-year-old Wesley Matthews must determine whether to opt-into his $2.7 million player option for next season or elect to undergo free agency.
If Matthew goes with the latter, recent reports suggest that the Miami Heat have their eye on the guard by means of their mid-level exception in free agency. The Heat will likely not be alone in the pursuit of an unrestricted Matthews, as he was among the hottest commodities on the buyout market last season.
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After being bought out by the New York Knicks last season, Matthews had a slew of contenders looking to bring him aboard for a playoff push. Among such teams were the Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Toronto Raptors, Philadelphia 76ers, and Golden State Warriors. The guard ultimately signed with the Indiana Pacers for a short stint before signing with the Bucks.
While free agency and the buyout market are undoubtedly different, the interest in Matthews for any contender is simple to justify. His stature as a ‘3-and-D’ specialist makes him an easy fit in any team’s lineup, one that could unquestionably help in the pursuit of a title.
The question is exactly how much the guard could command if he hit the open market and whether it would be much more of a raise compared to what Milwaukee would owe him at the veteran minimum. The interest in Matthews among contenders will surely be strong, but that would first require him to decline his player option for next season, which remains up in the air.
It remains to be seen whether Wesley Matthews’ first season with the Milwaukee Bucks left enough of a lasting impression for him to return.
Last offseason, it was more of the same for Wesley Matthews, pondering his free agency options with a handful of teams interested in his services. Weighing in on his options, a persuasive phone call from reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and the opportunity to play in his home state secured his commitment to the Bucks.
The guard did not have the most astounding season statistically, averaging just 7.4 points on .396/.364/.765 shooting splits, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. Still, Matthews’ floor spacing capabilities and robust ability to defend top-tier assignments made him a crucial contributor for the Bucks this season.
Matthews carved out a nice starting role for himself, and now the looming question is whether or not it was enough for him to run it back with the Bucks for at least one more season. The former Marquette Golden Eagle has reiterated on many occasions the gratitude he has to be playing back at home, and that could be the biggest advantage Milwaukee has over any opposing team looking to sign him.
As of now, the only thing to do is to speculate. Only time will tell what Wesley Matthews decides to do with his upcoming player option and whether he will play in Milwaukee next season.
If he elects to test the daring waters of free agency, a strong market will likely follow as contenders look to sign the veteran. Among those teams should be the Milwaukee Bucks.