Sheridan: the Spurs clear frontrunners to land Al Jefferson

Jefferson is a good player, but to think that Utah is going to get a lot for him I seriously doubt it. He's good at scoring in the paint but really not much else, if you have a fan base that is just waiting to get rid of a player that sometimes will tell you the entire story.

Utah fans watch him every night and you are going to have to really look hard to find some that want Jefferson past this season.

He's a aging player that's again a borderline all-star player. He'd be great on the Spurs though if they aren't giving up their depth to get him.

 

Jefferson plays the most minutes per game on the Jazz, but he's 4th in fta. Splitter plays less than Al, but goes to the line more often than Jefferson. Jefferson gets 9.5 rebounds per game, but only 2 offensive rebounds(3rd on team) per game. Asik gets 11.5 /3.3 rebounds/offensive per game in 3 fewer minutes per game.

I guess you can say Jefferson is playing out of position @ center, but for a 6'10" guy he only takes 31% of his shots @ the rim. Our "soft" pf Patterson takes 28% of his shots @ the rim. Even Chris Bosh takes 35% of his shots @ the rim.

The following is from a Jazz fan site. You can judge for youself if it's credible or not.

http://www.slcdunk.com/research-sta...ook-at-the-first-options-on-every-nba-team-in

 

SheridanHack

 

This (and the quoted text) makes Jefferson sound like a better, more consistent version of Patterson. I happen to agree with that assessment. When Patterson plays above his averages, the Rockets usually seem to be successful. Jefferson at PF would be great for this team. It really just comes down to price and I think some team will pay more than his value at PF for the Rockets in order for him to play center for them.

 

And Stephen Jackson is?

 

Stephen Jackson won an NBA championship with the Spurs.

 

Patterson plays defense and passes. Jefferson does neither. And given how little Morey likes the mid range jumper, I seriously doubt we'll be getting Jefferson at all.

 

Jefferson averages twice the assists, steals, blocks and defensive rebounds as Patterson in 8 more minutes. Jefferson in all likelihood won't come to Houston, but to suggest that he is not an upgrade to Patterson is disengenuous.

 

Patterson earns 2m a year while Jefferson is probably looking for max money. He is grossly overrated offensively and is worse than Boozer on the defensive end. Yea so great.
The problem is his contract imo. Not worth big time money.

 

My original post was based around the cost of keeping Jefferson. He is more valuable to some teams as a center than he would be to the Rockets at PF (where I think he would thrive). I would take him at the right price. Who is the magical player that you think would vault the Rockets into contention?

 

Jefferson is a 20/10 type of guy who may not be a great defender or have great physical ability he does have a excellent post game. Why wouldn't the spurs jump all over deal if it is really there. Jazz would be dumb to give him up that easily when there has to be better offers out there. Spurs have to be win now mentality with the age of there big players so obviously losing guys who prob really aren't going to be big time players anyways will not matter. If they don't win or he don't pan out like they want don't sign him if they go far and win he will prob take a pay cut to try to win again.

 

Al Jefferson would be worth every penny of a 10-12 million dollar contract.

He rebounds and scores at will on the block. Maybe the softest jumphook I have ever seen.

Good player, but he is just too much money. If you had a ridiculous shotblocker PF with him, Like Larry Sanders or Josh Smith, he would be perfect. He needs that, because his defense is pretty mediocre.

 

Al would be best playing alongside a high post center who can defend the paint, like KG, where he could operate down low with space and not have to worry about being said rim protector.