Big Al's Paint: The Al Jefferson Thread

[BigSlam]

we cant possibly be thinking of giving him a max deal, right?

I really want him, but not for that sort of coin.

[Diop]

with teams being desperate for space to sign players like Dwight, I think I want to keep some room to take advantage of one of these teams.

[MasterIchiro]

with teams being desperate for space to sign players like Dwight, I think I want to keep some room to take advantage of one of these teams.

Good point, we need to vulture them plus the teams tanking for Wiggins. If done right we can leverage the D12 situation and the Wiggins situation and come out with a rebuilding team also capable of winning now and starting a nice playoff run.

[Liver_Pooty]

This is from Chris Broussard at 9:50 PM last night:

Jefferson, who made $15 million last season, does not want to take a pay cut, and the Bobcats are weighing whether they want to offer anywhere near that figure. The 28-year-old Jefferson, of course, wants a four-year deal, and the Bobcats aren't sure they want to offer that many years.

One thing's for certain, the Bobcats and Jefferson spent an awful long time staying far apart in their negotiations. I still say Bynum is plan B for the Mavs and when Al's agent loses leverage we will get Al at a bargain price. It's one reason why we possibly targeted him in the first place. He could be an asset at the ultimate price we end up getting him. It's highly possible Dallas spurns him and he's left without a serious suitor with sufficient cap space. Then we swoop in and get him cheap.

Charlotte might have intentionally lowballed Jefferson because the front office predicted a limited market. The next move now (and this was probably planned all along) is going to be to engage another free agent as a "Plan B" to Jefferson which will counter Jefferson/his agent's bluff. It would be smart for Charlotte to court someone using the very same money offered to Al Jefferson which is again, nowhere close to 15 imo.

Pekovic

[MasterIchiro]

Pekovic is a good idea. Might have to work out a sign and trade but the Wolves asking price might be astronomical, thus the initial order of lowballing Jefferson first. But the point is to bid and show Al/Al's agent that this money has an expiration date and it's going to disappear because we're in the business of improving our club. I would also court Andrew Bynum just for effect. Heck I'd go for Mayo (but I like him anyways).

And of course we have already been linked to Mayo as one of the teams who initially contacted him. So he would seem like a natural progression in this negotiation process.

I do really want both though so I may be (highly) biased towards this as a strategy.

[Snidely FC]

Meanwhile the basketball world waits, held hostage as Dwight Howard gazes at his navel.

[LamarMatic7]

Pekovic isn't actually that much of a reach in a sign-and-trade scenario. I think they only have about 10 million in cap space to sign him after they picked up Martin and extended Budinger. They might be able to be persuaded in a sign-and-trade, since teams could offer large qualifying offers at Pek just to see what Minny's reaction is.

(My theory is that Portland will throw a big deal at Pekovic. The reasons being the bad blood between the FO's and them being willing to spend on a big guy as evidenced by offering Hibbert the max)

[James Gatz]

I'd rather shoot an offer at Pek for 12 than give Al 14. Minny is in serious cap crisis mode right now with their latest additions. I'm not sure they want to go over lux tax for a team that has no guarantee of making the playoffs.

[draftbarnes]

ESPNSteinLine now
Al Jefferson is heading to Charlotte on three-year deal worth estimated$41 million with opt out after Year 2, sources tell ESPN

[SacSanity]

This is a great pickup, what does the Bobcats starting lineup look like now?

[BlackOutBuzz]

13.7 per. Yuck. Unless we renounce Hendo, this has gotta spell the end for Tyrus.

Edit: Though I can't complain about it only being three years (possibly two).

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[MCoster]

3 year 41 mil is fair

[Liver_Pooty]

Woooo!

[Marino]

I'm not too upset about this, is the optout a player or team option?

[mrknowitall215]

Thumbs up #playoffs

[Logander]

this a$$hole isnt worth almost 14 mil a year. waste of money

[_tijo_]

Wow, biggest FA ever to come to the Bobs. Not super long term, our starting lineup looks better but not good enough yet to win 50. Hold down the fort and let's Bizzy develop for two years. And with Detroit we still might get a top pick.

Kemba/Hendo/MKG/Zeller/AlJeff

Bench: Sessions/?/Taylor/Biz/Haywood

[BlackOutBuzz]

^Best we can get with Pistons pick is ninth. Portland is 13th.

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[Snidely FC]

I'll be happy to watch Big Al play, but I can't say I understand this given everything mgmt of this team has done and said the last several years. Confusing.

[hotrod]

@ESPNSteinLine: After two-day visit in Charlotte and initial indications he'd wait out post-Dwight Howard market, Jefferson and Bobcats struck deal this AM

Nice move Cho.