How does Wesley Matthews fit with the Indiana Pacers?

Hello, Wesley Matthews. Welcome to Indiana. In the former Maverick (via a brief layover in New York), the Indiana Pacers have found an enviable reinforcement to the wing unit.

The Indiana Pacers did not trade for Wesley Matthews at Thursday’s 3 pm trade deadline, but Wesley Matthews chose the Indiana Pacers on Thursday nevertheless. That subtly seems significant as the Pacers prepare for the season’s homestretch with a new shooting guard. Matthews could’ve gone many places, but Indiana was a quick favorite.

Part of the reason is surely his comfort level with the Indiana Pacers leadership. Matthews was one of Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan’s players during Buchanan’s time in Portland, including as an interim general manager. Matthews’ second most prolific offensive season came under the guidance of then-Blazers (and current Pacers) coach Nate McMillan. The faces most important in guiding the Pacers franchise and regulating playing time all know Matthews well, and he knows he’s succeeded under them before. The question before us now: will he succeed again?

Baring an Evan Turner-level drop in production, smart Pacers fans are going to love Matthews. He’s built his reputation as the quintessential “three and d” player, and he plays both aspects with the tenacity befitting the ninja headband he wore earlier this season while playing for Dallas.

On offense, Matthews isn’t a statue. You’ll see some wings plop themselves on their mark behind the arch and wait. Matthews will occasionally do that too (intentionally trying to open up driving lanes) but a typical possession will see him engaged and fluid on the perimeter.

He moves and adjusts depending on the way the play develops, instead of waiting for a pass to find him, he’ll act like a wide receiver on a scramble play: cut to the open space so the passer can find him. It’s a subtle thing but it’s the subtle things you should expect out of a 32-year old who’s survived nine years in the NBA.

When it comes to his style of play, Matthews is the opposite player from Tyreke Evans. While Evans can shoot from deep, he prefers to saunter to the rim or create for others. In Matthews’ case, while he can drive he prefers to let fly from the midrange and beyond. Over half of all his shot attempts are from three, his second highest percentage is from the midrange, which works in Indiana because Indiana still values those types of shots.

Also, while it has been nice to see Indiana make 42% from deep over this recent win streak, the sober reminder is that that is a hot streak and not the norm. Adding another deep threat should only improve the consistency from three-point range.

On defense, Matthews is a different type of defensive standout from Oladipo. Oladipo is one of the more dynamic wing defenders in the league, aggressively pouncing on passing lanes like a tiger an antelope. That’s not Matthews. Not saying Oladipo isn’t, Matthews is a more fundamental defender, he moves his feet to stay in front of his man. He is balanced, rarely falls asleep and keeps his hands active. It’s tough to get by him, and it’s rare to catch him aloof.

All that said, he’s not a perfect player nor is he an all-star. Wesley Matthews is not a direct replacement for Oladipo, no one is. Matthews does not do the spectacular, and sometimes he can waste a possession with a rushed three too early in the shot clock. But he is steady, reliable, and a regular starter in the NBA.

Will he start for the Pacers? That’s up to McMillan. Matthews was a frequent starter when he was first coached by McMillan in Portland. It is probably safe to assume that Indiana wouldn’t have been as attractive a destination if he wasn’t going to be a starter.

In any event, his game will fit well with the first unit. Already, the keys to the offense have been handed over to Darren Collison, who has been playing very well in the playmaker role. Already Indiana has its new primary options established: Bojan Bogdanovic (averaging 20.9 ppg since Oladipo’s injury) and Myles Turner (16.8). Matthews’ game will complement those three. He will be able to take a sizable load on defense, then provide the space for Collison to create for Bogdanovic and Turner.

Matthews would be a clunkier fit in the reserve unit. His shooting would be valuable regardless of where he’s standing or sitting at the tip, but shuffling Evans back to the second unit provides the consistent attacking edge that unit lacks when Evans starts. Cory Joseph isn’t an aggressive attacker, both Edmond Sumner and Aaron Holiday have shown their youthful inconsistency. Evans, even with his own consistency issues, would be more valuable in with the second team than Matthews would, since Matthews isn’t an attacker, he’s an archer.

And he might be exactly what Indiana needed to fill out this current roster. The Indiana Pacers have already begun to stabilize since the immediate aftermath of Oladipo’s injury rocked them. Wesley Matthews should continue to make the best of a tough, tough situation. He’s the type of player that would fit in culturally and schematically with the identity of the Pacers. Not too shabby for a team that didn’t trade away any key pieces.