Wesley Matthews is signing a one-year deal with the Atlanta Hawks, according to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Matthews spent the last two seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Matthews appeared in 52 games for the Bucks last season. He averaged 3.4 points and 2.2 rebounds while shooting 36.3% from the field, 31.5% from beyond the arc and 85.7% from the free-throw line. The Bucks won 58 games in the regular season but lost to the Miami Heat in the first round of the 2023 playoffs in five games.
The 36-year-old Matthews has career averages of 11.7 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 950 games with the Utah Jazz, Portland Trail Blazers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers, Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers. He’s a career 42.0% shooter from the floor, 37.6% shooter from 3 and 82.4% shooter from the free-throw line.
The Hawks went 41-41 last season. They defeated the Heat in the 7-8 play-in game and faced the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 2023 postseason. Atlanta lost to Boston in six games.
The Hawks’ front office has been busy this summer. John Collins was traded to the Utah Jazz, Dejounte Murray signed an extension and Toronto Raptors star Pascal Siakam has been a player Atlanta has been trying to trade for all offseason.
Murray averaged 20.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists for the Hawks in 2022-23 while shooting 46.4% from the field, 34.4% from beyond the arc and 83.2% from the free-throw line. Meanwhile, Trae Young put up 26.2 points, 3.0 rebounds and 10.2 assists per game while shooting 42.9% overall, 33.5% from 3 and 88.6% from the free-throw line.
The Hawks were 35-32 when Young and Murray were in the lineup last season. It will be fascinating to see if Atlanta is able to land Siakam or another star soon.
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