Apr 12, 2013; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz center Al Jefferson (25) shoots during the second half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at EnergySolutions Arena. The Jazz won 107-100. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Al Jefferson – Unrestricted – 2012-2013 Salary $15,000,000
If you talk to Jazz fans, everyone is on different sides of the fence about Big Al. Half of Jazz fans say that Al needs to be gone. The other half wants to keep him. Me, personally, I wouldn’t mind the Jazz bringing him back. Realistically speaking, I don’t know if that will happen.
The Jazz, like Millsap, own the bird rights to Big Al and could do a sign and trade with a team to get something in return if he decides to leave.
Defensively, he was not real good. At times, I think a chair sitting in the corner of the room played more defense than he did. Offensively, he was a go to guy for the Jazz. His defense did pick up though late in the season. Late in games, Big Al came through most the time. He can score and his pump fake is deadly to opposing centers. Plus his salary is unreal, making nearly as much as Lebron James, Dwight Howard, and Dwayne Wade to name a few.
At the end of the day, Big Al is probably a top 5 center in the league and he will get paid like a top 5 center. The Jazz will think about this really hard over the off-season. Is Al worth the price you pay to him? Is he the guy you want at center as you move forward? Is it time to put Enes Kanter at the starting center position? All questions will be asked and answered over the upcoming months. I think the Jazz might look at it being time for the youth movement and let him go.
Result : Release