Vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale
said Jefferson went against the advice of his agent, who wanted
Jefferson to wait for potentially bigger offers next summer as a
restricted free agent. But Jefferson, acquired last summer in the trade
that sent Kevin Garnett to Boston, decided to sign Wednesday night
before the NBA deadline to extend rookie contracts.
said Jefferson went against the advice of his agent, who wanted
Jefferson to wait for potentially bigger offers next summer as a
restricted free agent. But Jefferson, acquired last summer in the trade
that sent Kevin Garnett to Boston, decided to sign Wednesday night
before the NBA deadline to extend rookie contracts.
"No. 1, I just wanted to get it locked in,"
Jefferson said. "I wanted to get in my head, get in my heart that I’m
going to be here. This is where I wanted to be. They traded for me.
They traded one of the best players in the NBA for me and some other
guys. And I felt this is where I need to be. This is where I want to
be. But I also wanted to reach a good number (salary-wise) that would
be good for me, you know, and that’s the number we reached."
Jefferson said. "I wanted to get in my head, get in my heart that I’m
going to be here. This is where I wanted to be. They traded for me.
They traded one of the best players in the NBA for me and some other
guys. And I felt this is where I need to be. This is where I want to
be. But I also wanted to reach a good number (salary-wise) that would
be good for me, you know, and that’s the number we reached."
Jefferson ignored that advice and signed a five-year, $65 million deal
just before the deadline Wednesday night. In the era of "Show me the
money!" and "bling bling," Jefferson’s reason was stunningly humble.
just before the deadline Wednesday night. In the era of "Show me the
money!" and "bling bling," Jefferson’s reason was stunningly humble.
"I didn’t even think I was worth max (money) this year anyway,"
Jefferson said at a press conference on Thursday. "I would’ve been a
fool to go up there and ask for max, having not really proved myself
for that. So the number I got was the number that was my goal from Day
1. And I think it was a win, win situation."
Jefferson said at a press conference on Thursday. "I would’ve been a
fool to go up there and ask for max, having not really proved myself
for that. So the number I got was the number that was my goal from Day
1. And I think it was a win, win situation."
With Randy Foye on the shelf because of a sore left knee, Telfair has
an opportunity to show that all of his speed and quickness can
translate into effective point guard play. Listen to him, and you get
the idea that he’s finally gotten the idea.
an opportunity to show that all of his speed and quickness can
translate into effective point guard play. Listen to him, and you get
the idea that he’s finally gotten the idea.
"You have to be more professional about the game," Telfair said this
week. "Understand what I have to do and what I can do. You know,
understand that sometimes guys take an opportunity and say it’s time
for me to get a lot of shots up."
week. "Understand what I have to do and what I can do. You know,
understand that sometimes guys take an opportunity and say it’s time
for me to get a lot of shots up."
The Star Tribune also takes a look at :
In a chat on ESPN, Chad Ford talks about Jefferson’s extenstion:
It looks like it’s 5 years, $60 million. That’s a lot, but considering
the Wolves just traded KG for him … I think they had to get this
done. He and Randy Foye are the franchise right now. It made no sense
to alienate him. I think Jefferson has a chance of being an all-star
some day, but I doubt he’ll be a superstar.
the Wolves just traded KG for him … I think they had to get this
done. He and Randy Foye are the franchise right now. It made no sense
to alienate him. I think Jefferson has a chance of being an all-star
some day, but I doubt he’ll be a superstar.
Some of the Timberwolves talk about their favorite Halloween costumes.
From what I can tell, of that 2004 draft class, only No. 1 pick Dwight
Howard and Al Jefferson got anything like a max deal—and
Howard deserved it and Minnesota had to pay Jefferson because he’s the
guy they wanted in the KG deal.
Howard and Al Jefferson got anything like a max deal—and
Howard deserved it and Minnesota had to pay Jefferson because he’s the
guy they wanted in the KG deal.
Mike Votta/STATS with a look at tomorrow’s season opener.
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