The free agency period in the NBA is heating up and with many players starting to agree to deals and trades, the biggest one in Dwight Howard will be the first major domino to fall and after that players like Al Jefferson and Josh Smith will likely start to sign.
According to Pro Basketball Talk and ESPN.com, Jefferson is waiting for Howard to sign to set the market for big men and sources say that he will be looking for a contract in the range of $15 million per year, which is what he was paid this past season. The Jazz were hoping to re-sign the star, but they are focusing on Paul Millsap and likely will let Jefferson go after he previously signed five-year, $65 million extension with the team.
Jefferson has been one of the most consistent players since signing the contract and he is considered one of the best big men in the league along with Howard and others. The 28-year-old will get plenty of attention on the market and some teams that could be interested include the Celtics and Mavericks, as well as the Charlotte Bobcats, who spent time with Jefferson this week. According to ESPN.com, Jefferson is looking for a four-year contract starting at $15 million and from there it could go a bit lower.
Jefferson has established himself as a great rebounder and defensive presence and any team that adds him likely will be better on the boards. Kenyon Martin and Matt Barnes are two other premier free agents on the defensive side and Martin has a number of teams interested in him, including the Lakers, Clippers, Spurs, Knicks and Nets. Martin was a solid presence last season for the Knicks, averaging 7.2 points on 60.2 percent shooting and 5.3 rebounds and he could be a great addition to the bench for a contending team.
The 36-year-old proved last season that he still has the skills to be a solid contributor and defensive presence and it is likely he will be on a minimum contract for whatever team he signs with. The Bobcats really like Jefferson, but he likely will sign with a team that is closer to winning and he will be a target for many teams as free agency goes on.