The Milwaukee Bucks certainly surprised everyone yesterday after signing Wisconsin native and former Buck Wesley Matthews to a deal out of the blue. Everything about this deal is interesting, whether it be the timing, value, corresponding moves, or any other factor. There is no shortage of things to unpack here, so let us take a look at the financial value of Matthews’ deal, his fit, his role, and an overall grade for the move.
The financial value of Wesley Matthews’ deal with the Milwaukee Bucks
This deal was initially announced with no financial specifics attached, but The Athletic’s Eric Nehm cleared things up by later stating that it would be a non-guaranteed deal. Many expected that a non-guaranteed contract would be the case here, which is the best thing possible for the Bucks. A non-guarantee means that they can cut Matthews by a specific date before his salary will become fully guaranteed. Given the team’s current financial situation, that will give them some flexibility in the future, no matter how this experiment plays out.
It is the same set of circumstances the team faces with DeMarcus Cousins, who they also brought in this week. These deals make any signing a low-risk, potentially high-reward move for teams in a difficult spot financially looking to add some depth. Bringing in Matthews might not be the most glamorous signing for the defending champs, but adding a seasoned veteran on a cheap deal such as this one is an understandable move for the front office. Financially, there is nothing to dislike at the moment because this deal is non-guaranteed.
How will Wesley Matthews fit with the Milwaukee Bucks?
Injuries have been a huge storyline for the Bucks throughout the first quarter of the new season, and they have turned to Matthews for help. The team knows what the guard is capable of, thanks to his prior time with the franchise. Matthews showed during an entire season that he could fit in with this Milwaukee team, and that likely made this move a much easier decision. While the team looks a tad different now than it did then, key pieces like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and coach Mike Budenholzer are all still in the fold. That should help him find his fit faster.
The strongest attribute Matthews brings to the table is his 3-point shooting. The swingman has a career 37.9 3-point percentage on 5.4 attempts per game. While the Bucks will not be getting the vintage version of Matthews that once wreaked havoc on the league, he can surely still let it fly. If so, he will fit snugly in lineups alongside players like Antetokounmpo and Middleton just as he did previously. Defense will also be a key factor for Matthews, as the Bucks have been one of the best defensive teams in the association during the Budenholzer era. The veteran has been known as a good defender throughout his career, so he should not have too many issues there.
The biggest question at hand is where Matthews will fit in the lineup. He will certainly not be a starter like he was during his first stint in Milwaukee, but he could carve out a spot for himself off the bench. Right now, the Bucks are without key pieces in the second unit in Donte DiVincenzo and the newly signed Semi Ojeleye. Pat Connaughton has started many games this year due to injuries rather than playing his typical role off the bench. All of this has resulted in the Bucks giving more minutes to Jordan Nwora, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, and Rodney Hood, who have all struggled to some degree. There are times where Nwora looks lost, Hood is having his worst season to date, and Antetokounmpo is not someone meant to see this much time nightly.
Given how shorthanded the Bucks are right now, Matthews will fit snugly in the second unit. That sentiment could change when the entire team is healthy, but once again, that is the beauty when it comes to non-guaranteed deals. For now, Matthews will likely take some playing time from the Nwora-Antetokounmpo-Hood trio off the bench. Perhaps the Bucks see Matthews as a potential upgrade over all three and that played into their decision to bring him in.
What role will Wesley Matthews play for the Milwaukee Bucks?
As previously mentioned, Matthews will not be reclaiming his spot as a starter for the Bucks and he will be coming off the bench. This second unit has been a weakness for Milwaukee this year as they currently rank 27th in points, 29th in assists, and 17th in rebounds per game. While they are a solid outside shooting unit at 35 percent – 11th in the NBA – Matthews’ role will revolve around bumping up that 3-point percentage and taking on household defensive assignments.
Offensively, the Bucks will likely use Matthews similarly to how they used Bryn Forbes last year, which means pairing him as much as possible with Antetokounmpo. Forbes managed to thrive in Milwaukee last year due to the abundance of open looks that the two-time MVP helped generate for him, and Matthews will be given the same opportunity. If the swingman can knock down those open 3-pointers, he will be in good shape, as this is a role tailor-made for his biggest strength.
Defensively, Matthews is someone that the Bucks can throw at top-notch players to take some of the pressure off of players like Antetokounmpo and Middleton. Matthews will essentially play the role that P.J. Tucker saw last season and what Ojeleye was doing this season before his calf injury. Although he is now 35-years-old, Matthews will give the Bucks yet another versatile defender to throw at opposing offenses on a nightly basis. That will be huge, as Matthews is a more reliable defender than players like Nwora or Hood.
Essentially, Matthews will have to live up to his 3-and-D stature for the Bucks. They will not ask him to do too much besides knock down a few 3-pointers and occasionally play tough defense. In a bench role, that should be suitable for the veteran.
An overall grade for Wesley Matthews’ deal with the Milwaukee Bucks
Bringing in Matthews is an understandable move for the Bucks. Even if he does not see significant time in the rotation, he is an upgrade over Georgios Kalaitzakis, the rookie second round pick they waived to make this move. Having a player like Matthews at the end of the bench instead makes far more sense for a championship contender like Milwaukee, as he will provide solid shooting and another solid defender in the second unit as an experienced veteran.
It will be interesting to see how the veteran’s previous experience with the team plays into this. It does not seem like he will play a pivotal role for the Bucks, but he could leapfrog players like Hood, Nwora, and T. Antetokounmpo in the rotation right from the jump. Matthews will play somewhere around 10-15 minutes per game, maybe even less, in all likelihood, and fans will be keeping an eye on how Budenholzer mixes up the rotation to find him minutes.
Matthews being signed to a non-guaranteed deal also makes this a reasonable move. If all goes well for him this time around, great. If not, the Bucks can part ways with Matthews as if nothing happened, basically. Only time will tell, but Matthews could carve out a role in Milwaukee for the remainder of the season if he can give the champs a boost off the bench. For now, there is not much reason to fret about the team adding a household name as their 15th man.
BTBP Grade: B
Perhaps Matthews will make his season debut with the Milwaukee Bucks in tonight’s meeting with the rivaling Miami Heat.