Unlike a certain big guy, Wesley Matthews kept his word, and inked a four-year deal with the Dallas Mavericks.
#signedsealedanddelivered #octagonfamily pic.twitter.com/zmUtodAHFu
— Wesley Matthews (@wessywes2) July 9, 2015
.@wessywes2 says he and Jordan were excited "to take this franchise back to where it belongs." "I got every indication that he was all in."
— Earl K. Sneed (@EarlKSneed) July 10, 2015
Matthews, a beloved player in Portland, penned a thoughtful goodbye letter on his way out of Rip City for The Players’ Tribune.
The Blazers also posted a thank-you note for their four departing free agents from this summer.
Rip City thanks you. For everything. 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/YIv4UWJq3X
— Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) July 9, 2015
Below is a snippet of Matthews’ piece:
You all were amazing to me from the moment I landed in Portland to my last moment as a Trail Blazer.
The plane landed and I was greeted by numerous people from the Trail Blazers, including retired NBA veteran Hersey Hawkins, who I will forever have a friendship with. As I was walking through the airport headed to baggage claim, my thoughts were interrupted by cheers from fans inside the airport. The media was there and I remember signing a little boy’s forehead. I couldn’t believe how much commotion and excitement there was. […] That’s when I felt the love from Portland and that’s when my love grew for the fans. Obviously, I am extremely grateful to Paul Allen, who had the final say in bringing me to Portland, and Chad Buchanan and Mike Born, who were the acting GMs at the time. I want to thank all three of them for believing in me. I’m thankful for all of my coaches and all of my teammates. I’m thankful for those who worked behind the scenes at the Moda Center and the practice facility in the past and present.
Five years is a long time. In those five years, I’ve developed many friendships with people within the franchise, but the friendships I am truly, truly grateful for are the ones with all of the fans. To the fans — thank you! I know this is overdue, but I wanted it to be right. You all were amazing to me from the moment I landed in Portland to my last moment as a Trail Blazer, and I can’t tell you what that means to me. I gave everything I had every night and I felt the same from you. […] Though I am continuing my career in Dallas, and am excited about my future with the Mavs, my love and appreciation for Rip City will always be there!
