Eat your heart out, Raptor fans.
Raptors interest in Wes Matthews has led to a scheduled meeting between the two sides, per person with knowledge of meeting.
— Jeff Zillgitt (@JeffZillgitt) July 1, 2015
ESPN sources say Wes Matthews has had meetings with officials from both Mavs and Raptors so far in free agency
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 1, 2015
The $$ obviously doesn't work & I have no clue how it would, but the pitch was DeMar at the two, Wes at the three and Carroll at the four.
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) July 1, 2015
Raptors working hard to get Wes Matthews, trying to entice him w/deal < $15M per season but for four years. At 28 going on 29, could work.
— Jeff Zillgitt (@JeffZillgitt) July 1, 2015
The Knicks, I'm told, were ready to offer DeMarre Carroll same/similar deal that Toronto did, but Carroll jumped at Raptors' outlook.
— Jeff Zillgitt (@JeffZillgitt) July 1, 2015
Basically, Matthews wants $15 million and the Mavericks are offering him $12 million. That’s essentially the difference right now. Even if they renounce Lou Williams, considering cap-holds for empty roster spots, Delon Wright, and Nando De Colo, the Raptors have about $9M left in the tank. They would have to swing a sign-and-trade to get Matthews and the key play by the Raptors could be the length of the deal offered. They’re offering a four-year deal which is what they got Demarre Caroll at, a player of a similar age.
Apparently, the role being pitched here is the starting shooting guard, with DeRozan moving to the three and Carroll at the four. After bulking up their shooting with Carroll, if the Raptors are able to sign Matthews who shoots 39% from three, it would make the the Raptors an excellent shooting team with 3/5 positions being deadly marksmen.
