When Will Big Al Get His Contract?

If Al wants to get it done and is willing to give a bit of an early bird discount or let the deal be incentive or back loaded then sign him. There is no reason to jump the gun, he is a RFA. He will set his own market value with his stats this season. No other team can pay him what we can anyway and he aint dumb.

He will not get the numbers, especially rebounds this year that he did last year. Perk will get better rebounding numbers and with Pierce/Allen getting so many touches, he will score less. No 20/10 here, more like 14/8 which will still be wonderful but much cheaper. If I am wrong, we lose……nothing. He isnt going anywhere. 8)

Jefferson getting the max? Huh? He’s still a primarily one dimensional player, undersized at his best position (center), underdeveloped defensively but showing signs of potential improvement….His basketball IQ is substantially less than would be expected of a MAX player.

I see him as a player with great potential and with instinctive offensive attributes but still an unfinished product. Based on his breakout season of 2007 one could expect further improvement. But will he truly dominate on both sides of the ball?

Signing Jefferson to an extended 6 year contract NOW represents risks for both the player and management as well as similar benefits for both. As has already been proposed, the incentive for management is to get Jefferson at a reasonable although INFLATED value now in hopes that his ultimate upside would otherwise justify a maximum contract.

Should Jefferson’s salary extension demands escalate to the max. it would be time to trade him for a known established star that already justifies the max.

He’s probably going to get his new contract in Minnesota.

There is risk to both sides if Al signs now, and risk to both sides if he signs later. The risks are simply different (other than the risk of injury, which is always present with professional athletes).

The reality is that the difference between 11 million a year and, say, 13 million a year is probably not huge for the player, but it’s huge for the player’s agent. It’s not just the increase in the agent’s compensation. An Agent needs to establish a reputation as someone who can get top dollar for his clients.

What lies BENEATHE the surface is Jefferson’s professed love and loyalty toward the Celtic’s….as in his statement that he doesn’t want to be traded but would “chain” himself to a streetlight/telepnone pole to prevent such a trade. Were his statements merely POSTURING or was he genuine in his remarks? Based on the fan outcry when the proposed trade for KG was rumored it would seem that most fans thought Jefferson sincere.

Such comments can undermine Jefferson’s quest for a max contract and induce him to settle for less….as was the case with a Red Sox pitcher two year’s ago signing a low-ball extension in hopes of remaining in Boston but instead enhancing his trade value and ending up in L.A.

As Brick mentioned, it’s the agent trying his best to secure the best possible contract extension (for financial and personal reasons) versus the desires of the player and the willingness of management to make a rational deal. As for players accepting less than top dollar, look no further than the Patriots….

Isn’t Jefferson’s last option season next year (not this year)? If so, he can be locked up for 6 years.

If you look at Howard’s deal, you will see that he is now under contract for a total of six years, since the 5-year extension does not kick in until 2008-2009: http://www.hoopshype.com/salaries/orlando.htm

Yes, May’s statement is wrong. It would technically be a 6-year extension, but the “big money” would only start in year two and last for years 2 through 6.

The important piece is how much Jefferson would cost know as opposed to after the season. Who really cares if May was incorrect about when the six year extension would kick in, it is kind of irrelevant and just seems like an excuse to trash on the guy.

It looks to me as if the Celts are waiting to see if they trade Al before the season. If they do, then it’s the other’s team responsibility to sign Al. If they don’t, look for a contract before the first game.

I am on record for hoping they don’t trade – but thinking they will.

Give five year contract @10 Mil per and offer opt out for him at and team in year four. pierce and Allen will have reached the end of their contracts and the door will be open to put Al where he belongs at a max hoefully by then he will have proven his worth and deserve it.

Al isn’t going anywhere. Danny is not an above average GM but he has a 22 yr old who can score in this league, who showed flashes of leadership and who is core to any tema bonding this team could aspire too. KG is great but if Danny gets his pocket picked by McHale he should be ridden out of town on a rail.

sign him; a bird (don’t i wish) in hand is worth more than one in the bush. build a core. it’s a business and you also have to show the $ to make the $.