Rip City Project
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3 former Portland Trail Blazers to bring back in Free Agency

By Stevie Cozens

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 07: Maurice Harkless #8 of the Los Angeles Clippers battles CJ McCollum #3 of the Portland Trail Blazers for a loose ball during the second half of a game at Staples Center on November 07, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 07: Maurice Harkless #8 of the Los Angeles Clippers battles CJ McCollum #3 of the Portland Trail Blazers for a loose ball during the second half of a game at Staples Center on November 07, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) /

Former Blazer #2 – Wesley Matthews

Wesley Matthews is a 34-year-old wing originally signed by the Utah Jazz back in 2009 after going undrafted. Matthews played just one season with the Jazz before signing in 2010 with the Blazers, where he played for five seasons while also playing the best basketball of his career.

Matthews, at his peak, was a high-level two-way player who could play strong man defense while knocking down three-pointers at some of the best rates in the league.

Matthews hit a whopping 826 three-pointers for the Blazers, at the elite rate of 39.4 percent.

After a catastrophic injury in 2015 where he tore his Achilles just as the Blazers played some of the best basketball in their history, he joined the Dallas Mavericks and moved into more of a role player type.

Matthews still shot well from three, but he was never the same player after that injury. As a role-player now, he is still a strong role player in the NBA.

Matthews body type means that he can now guard threes and fours well. He’s strong, and though not as quick as he used to be, he has great defensive instincts and still forces turnovers at a high level.

Offensively, Matthews can still shoot it. He may not finish at the rim as well or get the elevation he used to on his shots, but he can still hit the three at high levels.

Contract-wise, Matthews is similar to Harkless, where he is around the veterans minimum or maybe the bi-annual ( no more than $4 million. ) He would be a great bench piece as a backup two / three.