What happened to Al Jefferson?

[Dexterity]

and you say he "bounced around playing for various teams"...

He has basically played for three teams including the Hornets.

He was traded from Boston after his rookie season as the centerpiece of the deal that sent Kevin Garnett to the Celtics.

He's played for 4 teams and never more than 3 years in one place. And he'll be out of Charlotte after 2 or 3 years. There's a reason.

[Omega Atrocity]

I'm like half and half on Jefferson. Last year he was a ton of fun to watch and one of the major reasons we made it to the playoffs. But this season he's been very sluggish, and hasn't been able to get his offensive game going really. I don't know if it's due to lack of conditioning, or his groin injury or what. This year you are really able to see why 2 teams have given up on him in the past (I don't count Boston, they traded him for a HoFer).

 

I think he's done here after this season or next, depending on whether he opts in or not. While it seems likely he'll opt in, I wouldn't rule out him opting out. If he has another year like this one it will pretty much kill all the earning power he has for the rest of his career. he might opt out early and attempt to cash in on his last big contract (which I am sure he will seek a 3 or 4 year deal).

[cbarrier90]

I appreciate what Al did last season, but he was a stopgap until our young core matured into competent NBA players. They are at that point, so his work here is done.

The focus should be on building around these young players. Build around Al, and we are right back on that treadmill and limiting the ceilings of our young players.

[JJman Returns]

He was about the 4th or 5th best offensive C, and about the worst defensive C in the entire league.

He's a good offensive player. That's it. He's not great, he's not an All-Star, and he's sure as hell not gonna get a team anywhere.

Name the better offensive centers.

[Omega Atrocity]

Name the better offensive centers.

Cousins is better. Other than that I can't think of anyone. I guess you could make the argument for Duncan and Noah (last year's Noah).

[Dexterity]

Name the better offensive centers.

Cousins, Duncan, Howard, Gasol, Gasol...

[JJman Returns]

Cousins, Duncan, Howard, Gasol, Gasol...

Lol.

Seriously? I might give you Pau and Duncan a few years ago, but last season? Hell the fug no.

Marc Gasol sure as hell wasn't better offensively last season. Dwight Howard might be debatable. Cousins is the only one I'll give you.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Cousins, Duncan, Howard, Gasol, Gasol...

Duncan isn't a center, Pau is definitely not a better scorer, and you have to be on crack if you think Howard is better offensively.

Cousins, Marc Gasol, and maybe Vucevic are the only centers with a better offensive game than Al.

[rmoneyg35]

Injuries to him and injuries to key players mean teams can focus more on Al.

[Proudiddy]

Yeah, I've had enough of Al. What he gives up isn't worth what he puts up offensively and he's not what he was offensively, which makes it even worse.

[cbarrier90]

Yeah, I've had enough of Al. What he gives up isn't worth what he puts up offensively and he's not what he was offensively, which makes it even worse.

He's DeAngelo Williams!

[Omega Atrocity]

- Pau was very mediocre last year, and he missed a lot of time.

 

- Duncan is debatable I guess, but he has so much more talent around him it's hard to say for sure. 

 

- Marc Gasol wasn't better offensively last year, this is the first season he's really started looking to score or do anything other than set up people or swing from the high post. 

 

-Howard wasn't good offensively and is a more hyped version of DeAndre Jordan

 

-Cousins, yeah he was probably better last year, but it's pretty close honestly. Both had a pretty severe lack of talent around them.

 

Jefferson has been a disgrace and a big part of the reason we're losing this year. But I'm not going to take away what he did last year. Sure the East was week, and whatever else you want to say. But Al and Steve Clifford took a team that had won 21 games the year before and turned into a mediocre team that fought hard and left everything they had on the court.

[cbarrier90]

- Pau was very mediocre last year, and he missed a lot of time.

- Duncan is debatable I guess, but he has so much more talent around him it's hard to say for sure.

- Marc Gasol wasn't better offensively last year, this is the first season he's really started looking to score or do anything other than set up people or swing from the high post.

-Howard wasn't good offensively and is a more hyped version of DeAndre Jordan

-Cousins, yeah he was probably better last year, but it's pretty close honestly. Both had a pretty severe lack of talent around them.

Jefferson has been a disgrace and a big part of the reason we're losing this year. But I'm not going to take away what he did last year. Sure the East was week, and whatever else you want to say. But Al and Steve Clifford took a team that had won 21 games the year before and turned into a mediocre team that fought hard and left everything they had on the court.

But the entire debate isn't about what he did last year. It's about what he does now and will do in the future. And right now all indications are if we sign him to the cap figure he's probably going to get, we might as well plan to tear it all down in the few years.

He's great for making teams respectable, but he's never going to get you beyond that.

This is MKG's team. It's time the roster reflected that.

[Omega Atrocity]

But the entire debate isn't about what he did last year. It's about what he does now and will do in the future. And right now all indications are if we sign him to the cap figure he's probably going to get, we might as well plan to tear it all down in the few years.

He's great for making teams respectable, but he's never going to get you beyond that.

This is MKG's team. It's time the roster reflected that.

Agreed completely. I'm over Jefferson 100%, it's already time to move on.