Al Jefferson was one of the top players to hit the market in free agency this offseason and now it appears that the former Utah Jazz star is ready to sign, as he agreed on a three-year contract with the Charlotte Bobcats.
According to ESPN.com, Jefferson agreed to a three-year deal worth over $40 million after spending two days with the team and he will sign the contract on July 10 to make it official. The report says that Jefferson's contract has a player option after the second year, meaning he could become a free agent again while still in his prime years. The 28-year-old has been one of the most consistent big men in the league over the past few years and he averaged 17 points and nearly 10 rebounds this past season for the Jazz.
The team was solid last season while going 43-39 and they came close to making the playoffs and now Jefferson will head to a team that desperately wants to get to that point. Jefferson was originally drafted by the Boston Celtics and now he heads to Charlotte, where the team needed some size and scoring in the post. Over the past seven seasons he has averaged over 18 points and 10 rebounds and he is the most notable player that Michael Jordan has signed to the Bobcats since becoming the owner.
The Bobcats will release Tyrus Thomas using the amnesty clause to get the salary space to sign Jefferson and he marks the first player to leave the Jazz out of their group of free agents. The team had Jefferson along with Paul Millsap, Mo Williams and Randy Foye as free agents and the team just missed the playoffs in the Western conference. Jefferson made his way to the Jazz through a trade from the Celtics and he made $15 million last season and was seen as one of the top free agents past Dwight Howard.
Jefferson is considered a good leader in the locker room and he helped Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter with their post skills while in Utah. Jefferson worked hard on his passing in Utah and the team finished ninth in the conference to miss the playoffs. Last season the Bobcats had another rough season and over the past two years they have only won 28 games while losing 120. Jefferson joins Kemba Walker and Brendan Haywood on the team and he is now the top scoring and rebounding man down low for the Bobcats.
In April, Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin praised Jefferson for his contributions in Utah.
"He's done a great job, coming in, being known as an offensive player, getting numbers," Corbin said. "And he's gotten numbers here, but they've helped us win a lot of games. He's been healthy. He's always ready and willing to play and likes to be on the floor, and I think he's been a great guy with this team of guys."
