Bucks Interested in a Reunion with Free Agent Wes Matthews

One of several decisions that the Milwaukee Bucks will have to make this offseason is whether or not to bring back free agent Wes Matthews. And now, having heard from both sides, it certainly sounds like there is mutual interest in doing so.

Matthews didn’t rejoin the Bucks until December of this past season, providing them with some needed wing depth off the bench.

Matthews would end up averaging just over 20 minutes per contest while appearing in 49 games, including 14 starts. He would average 5.1 points, 1.9 rebounds, and just shy of an assist each game. He would, however, hit only 33.8% of his 3.2 three-point attempts each game, which was well below his career average of 38% entering the 2021-2022 season.

However, while Matthews can certainly rain in some threes here and there, where his impact is really felt is on the defensive end. Matthews is a relentless defender who can match up with, disrupt, and frustrate even some of the best offensive wing players this league has to offer.

According to NBA.com, Matthews’ highest defensive minutes this previous season came matched up against DeMar DeRozan, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Fred Van Vleet, and Jaylen Brown, to name a few.

With that ability and intensity, there are always going to be minutes –and even some starts — for Matthews on this Milwaukee Bucks team, where he embodies what it is to be a 3-and-D player in the NBA. This is the big reason why bringing Matthews back is on the radar of Bucks GM Jon Horst:

"“He ended up starting for us in the playoffs and gave more to this team in terms of blood, sweat, and tears than anyone and just an ultimate competitor, an ultimate teammate, understands his role and understands how to maximize his role,” said Horst to reporters via Behind the Buck Pass.“He was incredibly efficient and effective at what he did in guarding some of the best players that our game has. Love what he did, and I think if we have an opportunity to have him back and I know that he’s expressed that that’s something that he would like to do, hopefully we can figure something out when the time’s right.”"

While the two sides still have to come to an agreement, and at this time, we don’t know if any official tasks have actually taken place, for what it’s worth, Matthews played out the 2021-2022 season on a one-year deal worth just below $2 million.

But before Milwaukee goes all-in on bringing Matthews back for the upcoming season, they may wait and see how the draft and early free agency unfolds–just in case a better option presents itself.

In addition to potentially re-signing Matthews, the Bucks may look into trying to also re-sign Jevon Carter — which Horst also discussed recently — and if either Bobby Portis or Pat Connaughton rejects their player options for this season, finding a way to retain each of them will become a top priority for Milwaukee.