Ranking the five best Portland Trail Blazers players of the last decade
Scouting Report. 34. 15.4 PTS, 31.1 Win Shares. Wesley Matthews. 4. player. Pick Analysis. 2010-2015
Wesley Matthews had it all going for him in college. He had the NBA pedigree – Wes Matthews Sr. was a two-time champion with the Lakers – and the opportunity to light the nation up on a big stage at Marquette University. Yet, other teams did not see his natural talent as he went undrafted in 2009.
After a breakout year playing for the Jazz, Portland quickly scooped up the young prodigy. Signed to a 5-year, $32.5 million contract, Matthews quickly became one of the best values in the entire NBA. He averaged 15.4 points per game with his 39.4 percent shooting on deep in an era where the three-ball had not yet taken over the analytics departments of every franchise.
During his time in Portland. Matthews was the epitome of consistency. A player who took nearly six three-pointers per game with elite efficiency was unheard of. Matthews also successfully replicated his collegiate success by becoming a threat to drive to the rim on any given possession. It didn’t take long for Matthews to go from relative unknown to a household name in Portland.
The Portland Trail Blazers made the playoffs three times in Matthews’ five-year tenure. Matthews was top three in scoring among all Blazers for four of those years. The Blazers didn’t truly take off until 2012 though, when Matthews served as the perfect third wheel to support LaMarcus Aldridge and rookie Damian Lillard.
Their first year together, the team went a disappointing 33-49, but not much else could be expected of the previously sixth worst team in the league. Fortunately, that season’s disappointment would manifest itself in the tenth overall pick where the Blazers would select a project player in CJ McCollum.
During the next two years the trio spent together, the team went 105-59. This Blazers team played like the Monstars after the previous years of underachieving. Unfortunately, (much like the Monstars) the group could never capitalize on their talent, never getting past the second round in the playoffs.
After that season, the group disbanded as Aldridge joined the Spurs and Matthews took his talents to Dallas. Unfortunately his career has since been plagued by injuries. Yet, he’s still found his place in the NBA, most recently starting with the Indiana Pacers to aid their playoff hopes.