Utah Jazz notebook: Decision on Wesley Matthews 'business'

SALT LAKE CITY — On Monday, Raja Bell said his rare return to his old NBA team was made possible because "there weren't any bridges burned" between him and the Utah Jazz.

That might not be the case with the Jazz and Wesley Matthews.

Shortly after Bell signed his three-year, $10 million contract with Utah, Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor confirmed he was one phone call away from making Matthews' shocking five-year, $32.5 million deal with Portland a reality.

"He made a business decision," O'Connor said. "He took the money."

The GM was consoled by the fact the team acquired a former Jazz starting shooting guard and added, "Not matching had to do with Raja Bell."

O'Connor also disputed how Matthews' camp described negotiations with the Jazz.

The former Jazz player, who went from being an undrafted rookie to a full-time starter last season in Utah, told fanhouse.com that it was possible he would've signed with the Jazz had they given him a "fair" offer, even if it was below the mid-level exception.

Without getting into details, O'Connor bristled when asked about Matthews' claim.

"That's absolutely not true," O'Connor said. "You can call his agent and ask his agent."

O'Connor didn't want to comment on the surprising amount of Matthews' deal, which included a front-loaded $9.1 million due next week.

"That's somebody else's player now," O'Connor said. "I wouldn't want to go there."

Asked if the parting was negative, O'Connor simply replied: "Business."

Center Kyrylo Fesenko, whom the Jazz have signed to a qualifying offer, now tops the Utah's offseason to-do list.

"He's next on the agenda," O'Connor said of the restricted free agent. "(We'll) go from there, see what happens, see if Portland has any more money left."

Also, O'Connor didn't rule out making a trade or signing an experienced NBA free agent — perhaps using an exception or mid-level money — to bring the currently nine-man-deep roster up to a required 13 players.

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