[NY Post] McHale offered Telfair an extension; Telfair declined

Strange how we always criticize players who jump at the chance to sign for big bucks after getting decent contract-year stats. Here we've got a guy who was offered an extension and turned it down. Most likely, he thought he was worth more than McHale was offering and decided to prove it this year in the hope that someone would offer him more next year. That's kind of refreshing, in a way.

Although because it's Telfair we're talking about, it's a questionable decision because he's never shown much game in the pros. Still, it looks like he has (so far, anyway) picked up his game this year. It's only been four games, but he's starting for the T-Wolves because of Foye's injury and is getting 33 minutes per game. A nearly 3-1 assist-to-turnover ratio says he's protecting the ball. Big problem so far looks like it's been his shooting (.281 FG% -- ugh).

Keep in mind, though, he's a third-year pro who just turned 22 over the summer. All the attention obviously went to his head early in his career, but maybe him turning down this contract says that he's got his head on straight and is ready to carve out a career for himself. It's not like he never had the skills -- he just never learned how to use them well. Some guys take longer to find their place than others. It might be a bit too early to count Telfair out.

Assuming he stays away from the firearms, that is.