http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1655345-al-jefferson-to-charlotte-bobcats-reportedly-sign-veteran-center-to-3-year-deal
Al Jefferson to Charlotte: Bobcats Reportedly Sign Veteran Center to 3-Year Deal
BY (FEATURED COLUMNIST) ON JULY 4, 2013
Al Jefferson, one of best available talents on the open market this summer, has signed a deal with the Charlotte Bobcats.
According to ESPN's Marc Stein, the veteran big man signed a 3-year, $41 million deal, with an option for the third year.
The top-tier big man holds career averages of 16.4 points on 50 percent shooting, 9.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.4 blocks and 0.7 steals per game. He spent the past three seasons with the Utah Jazz, with prior three-year stints in Minnesota and Boston—the franchise that selected him No. 15 overall in the 2004 draft.
At 28 years old, Jefferson isn’t exactly the youngest player on the Bobcats' roster, but the big man should bring some much needed experience, offensive firepower and a low-post presence Charlotte.
Jefferson is generally regarded as one of the league’s worst interior defenders, but more than makes up for it with his ability to command a double-team on the other end of the floor.
While he’s never been selected to an All-Star team or garnered any other significant honors during his nine-year career, Jefferson has been a steady performer in the paint for much of the past decade.
Since landing in Utah, Jefferson has tremendously improved his passing capabilities. That is an extremely important yet vastly underrated aspect of his game, considering he’s a can’t-miss scorer on the left block and most smart coaches will put two defenders on him every time he receives the ball there.
Big Al generating what is now a standard double team.
Now that Jefferson can pass out instead of forcing up an errant shot or risking a turnover, he’s put up some of his best numbers.
Over the past three seasons, Jefferson has averaged 2.0 assists and 1.2 turnovers per game and helped his club to the playoffs in 2012, while barely missing the postseason in 2013.
He may not be a high percentage shooter, avoids contact like the plague on both sides of the court and plays sieve-like defense, but Big Al is going to be an asset for the Bobcats.
Whether he’s pulling down boards, piling up points or even setting up teammates, Jefferson will have a positive impact in Charlotte during the twilight of his prime. The Bobcats know what they are getting here and have paid a fair price for his services.
