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You had to wonder whether Jon Horst had one more rabbit to pull out of his hat after yesterday’s free agency bonanza, and it appears Wesley Matthews is his latest trick:
Free agent G Wesley Matthews has agreed to a deal with the Milwaukee Bucks, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2019
The NBA's Executive of the Year Jon Horst did a tremendous job building out the Bucks bench a summer ago. Solid addition on a minimum deal here. Several contenders were in pursuit of Matthews, who played his college ball at Marquette. https://t.co/dDtcGdu8AI
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2019
After the George Hill signing, Milwaukee only had the minimum exception available to sign Wesley Matthews. A strong candidate for the stretch provision to open up room for Hill could be Jon Leuer.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) July 1, 2019
Matthews, a 10-year vet, spent the latter portion of last season with the Indiana Pacers after getting traded from Dallas and bought out by the New York Knicks. He averaged 10.9 points (.386/.369/.854), 2.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in his 23 apperances as a Pacer, though he struggled in their first-round series against the Celtics.
For the Bucks this signing amounts to a veteran wing who fits the mold of a shooter to function within coach Mike Budenholzer’s five-out system. Matthews has a career 3PAr of .511 and increased that mark to .577 last season.
With Malcolm Brogdon on his way to Indiana there was an open question as to how Milwaukee would plug up the gap left by his departure. With Matthews in the fold the Bucks have yet another option on the perimeter with a green light to launch the ball from deep. It won’t be a like-for-like replacement, but the Bucks have much-needed insurance.
Jon Horst may have done it again, folks.