Al Jefferson didn't go for max money. Is he crazy?!

Linkage.

Jefferson gets $65M deal from Wolves, says he's not worth max deal yet
By Jon Krawczynski, AP Sports Writer
November 1, 2007

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Al Jefferson could have waited until next summer to sign a contract extension with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

In fact, that was what his agent advised him to do, hoping that a big season and his status as a restricted free agent would have brought the 22-year-old power forward the highest contract allowable under league rules.

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.

"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."

At an average salary of $13 million per season that starts next year, Jefferson certainly won't be starving. But Timberwolves vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale said that had Jefferson signed a max deal, he would have been entitled to 25 percent of Minnesota's salary cap.

"I can tell you around the league, 85 percent of the people feel they're worth max," McHale said with a chuckle. "Al's in the minority of 15 percent that doesn't believe he deserves max."

McHale adoringly calls him "truly a throwback, low-post, offensive rebound, punch-you-in-the-mouth and score around the paint type guy."

"I knew Al was good," McHale said. "Al's better than I thought he was. When you're around him every day, you see his character, you see his personality, you see his work ethic and you see his ability. It's really a package that's very, very impressive."

With KG gone to Boston, it's Jefferson's team now. After four years with the Celtics, Jefferson thinks he is ready to become a star.

"I told Kevin I'm prepared for this. I'm ready for this," Jefferson said earlier in training camp. "This is what I want. Every guy in the NBA wants to get the opportunity that I have right now and I want to take advantage of it."

The Wolves again have a player they can build a franchise on who has a good character as compared to most of the league.

I just hope McHale doesn't screw it this time. Again.

Sounds like a very likable person.

if he works out the way i think he will kevin will start looking like a good gm for the move he made rather than a goat. i believe jefferson will turn out to be a top player in this league and they got him at a cheap rate

yep Jefferson will be a top player in this league.....he's already one of the best post players!

Whether or not he's truly worth the max deal at this point, he certainly could have demanded it given the trend of locking up promising players of his calibre to long, generous deals. His humility is certainly refreshing.

That was the most stupid career move ever

That was the most stupid career move ever

Yeah, making $13 million a year certainly is fucking retarded.

Off the top of my head, Sprewell turning down $21 million/3 years is way more retarded than what Big Al did. In fact, if you want to play on a winning team, you should pretty much never take max money.

This is a nice thing to see, especially from a guy coming straight from high school who normally made the jump for the NBA early due to financial reasons and to rack up as much cash as fast as possible.

Yes, he is crazy. How dare someone in the NBA actually accept a contract of what theyre worth...

I think this is a fucking fantastic move by Jefferson. He isn't that good, yet. 13mil a season is great, it allows the Wolves to have space to build around him (what a shame McHale will fuck it up) and it doesn't make Jefferson look like a complete tool. (See: Varejao)

On that note, Varejao is a fucking retard.

Don't forget this means Al Jeff gets more money now then he would have if he had waited. Maybe he thought, 13 mil is plenty and I'd rather start racking that up now instead of having the same contract this year and risking something having a tough season this year and having to settle for less then max anyways.

I wouldn't have signed that deal either. I'd rather sign somewhere else than in Minnesota

I think his act was class. The Wolves are lucky to have him on board and in place of Garnett (Big shoes to fill). He sounds smart and loyal; what any team needs.

On that note, Varejao is a fucking retard.

Varejao's fooling himself if he believes he's worth the money he's asking. He's no scrub but I doubt the Cavs are about to pay $10 mil per year for a backup centre. At least Pavlovic came around.

I wouldn't have signed that deal either. I'd rather sign somewhere else than in Minnesota

Try reading the article next time. The point is that he DID sign the deal.

On that note, Varejao is a fucking retard.

Varejao's fooling himself if he believes he's worth the money he's asking. He's no scrub but I doubt the Cavs are about to pay $10 mil per year for a backup centre. At least Pavlovic came around.

Someone wrote an article on RealGM about it...

First, just look at his numbers. In six games as a starter last year he averaged 12 points and 11.3 rebounds in 35.3 minutes of action. Giving him a deal for at least seven-million dollars a year would be a bargain in comparison to Erick Dampier, who got seven years and 73-million dollars by putting up those numbers three years ago.

Dampier has a horrible fucking contract.

But Nene got a lot for doing nothing...
And look at Dalembert...
Jerome James!!!

All these people getting big contracts, and theyre terrible contracts. There should be a law against stupid agents telling their players that Dalembert's or James' contracts are decent precedent, because I can't think of any other reason why Varejao thinks he is worth 10m a yr.

Oh wait, he can flop...

...the league is better off without him

"...the league is better off without him"

i agree. if he gets 10 mil a year it will be one of the worst fucking things ever in the nba. players getting max deal just cause they are big. seriously these big guys come out, play bust ass basketball til thier contract year, get the huge deal then give up

He shows what kind of personality he has. He is gonna come up big and be a monster when he matures.

I don't think he deserves max money from what he has shown, his contract sounds about right for his numbers, but of course if they improve, then he might have deserved more... we'll see...

lol i love it how he justified it by saying that he wasn't worth max money.

props to him

we need more guys like him in the league and less Kobes.

I think his act was class.

Yeah it was a brilliant way for a quick +1 post

Yeah it was a brilliant way for a quick +1 post

And your post wasn't?

You know, he DID include another sentence in there to give a more in-depth explanation. Then again, I can't really tell if you're referring to some sort of inside joke or just making a really bad statement.

Anyway, Jefferson's been looking good so far going 16-12. It's only been 2 games, but I can already feel that this guy (barring injury) is going to be worth every penny.

maybe too early, but they have good thoughts in locking up there star quick.

if jefferson gets injury probs there screwed