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Pacers sign Al Jefferson

The Indiana Pacers have signed veteran free agent center Al Jefferson to a multi-year contract.

Jefferson’s deal is reportedly a $30 million dollar contract over three years.

This will be an interesting fit, as the Pacers were looking to play more up-tempo basketball, while Jefferson is best when the offense gets slowed down and he’s able to operate in the post.

The 6-10, 289-pound Jefferson spent the last three seasons of his 12-year NBA career with Charlotte. Drafted by the Boston Celtics in 2004 (first round, 15th overall) out of Prentiss (Mississippi) High School, Jefferson was with Boston three seasons before being traded to Minnesota. He spent three years there before being traded to Utah, where he played for three seasons. He then signed as a free agent with Charlotte in 2013.

“We want to welcome Al to the Indiana Pacers,” said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird. “Al is a good, solid, veteran player. We know what he brings to our team, scoring, rebounding and he’s a handful down in the post. Not only do we think he’ll help us a lot on the court, we think he will be a good mentor for Myles Turner. He’s a proven player in this league and we are very confident he will help us in many ways.”

Jefferson has career averages of 16.7 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. He averaged a career best of 23.1 in points in 2008-09 and a career best 11.1 rebounds in 2007-08. In 2014, he was a third team All-NBA selection.

Al Jefferson to undergo knee surgery

The Charlotte Hornets announced today that center Al Jefferson will undergo arthroscopic surgery tomorrow to address a tear in the lateral meniscus of his right knee. Earlier today, Jefferson underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which revealed the injury.

The procedure will be completed by Hornets Team Physician Dr. Marcus Cook at Novant Orthopedic Hospital in Charlotte. Jefferson’s recovery time is expected to be approximately six weeks.

The 11th-year center from Prentiss, Miss. is averaging 12.5 points (.482), 6.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 25.2 minutes per game in 19 contests (17 starts). In three years with Charlotte, Jefferson has averaged 18.6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 32.0 minutes per game. In his first season in Charlotte, he was named to the 2013-14 All-NBA Third Team.

Al Jefferson suspended for violating Anti-Drug Program

The NBA announced today that Al Jefferson of the Charlotte Hornets has been suspended without pay for five games for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program. Jefferson’s suspension will begin with the next NBA regular season game that he is eligible and physically able to play.

In response to this, the Hornets released this statement:

“We are disappointed in Al’s decisions that led to this suspension. As an organization, we do not condone this behavior. We have addressed this with Al. He is regretful and understands that we expect him to learn from this mistake.”

Statement from Al Jefferson:

“I want to apologize to the Hornets organization, our owner, my teammates and my coaches for the poor decision that I made. I know I have let people down, especially the Hornets fans that have been so supportive of me since I arrived in Charlotte two years ago. I am blessed to be able to play the game that I love for a living and I do not take that for granted. From the bottom of my heart, I am truly sorry, and I am committed to making smarter decisions in the future.”

Al Jefferson changes diet, drops weight

Here’s the Charlotte Observer reporting on Hornets star center Al Jefferson, who should be even harder to guard this season now that he’s dropping weight and presumably adding quickness in the process:

Fried chicken: Charlotte Hornets center Al Jefferson craves it and he knows it’s off his menu in the effort to lose as much as 25 pounds.

So when a certain commercial comes on the television, Big Al grabs for the remote.

“Every Popeye’s commercial I see, I have to turn the TV off,” Jefferson said Thursday.

Jefferson will again be a big factor in how the Hornets do in the upcoming season. He discussed his summer and the Hornets’ prospects with Observer NBA writer Rick Bonnell:

Q: You said at last season’s conclusion it was important you lose 20 or more pounds in the off-season. How has that gone?

Jefferson: Great. 20-plus. One thing about losing weight: It becomes a lot easier once you become disciplined about what you’re eating. Cutting out the sugar and the starch. Taking care of your body. Once I got into a routine it became pretty easy. And I knew what I was doing it for – to take some of the weight off my knees and getting my body into better shape than last year.

Al Jefferson finally set to play for Bobcats

Good news for the Charlotte Bobcats, as reported by the Charlotte Observer:

After missing the past five regular-season games – and the better part of a month — with various right-ankle injuries, Charlotte Bobcats center Al Jefferson will start tonight against the Atlanta Hawks at Time Warner Cable Arena.

“Al is going to start tonight. I don’t know how many minutes he’ll play, but he feels good,” Bobcats coach Steve Clifford said at morning shootaround. “He didn’t have any soreness from practice yesterday, and he feels good. We’ll start him and integrate him into our play as best we can.”

Jefferson originally hurt his ankle in the second preseason exhibition against the Miami Heat. He sat out the rest of the preseason, coming back for the regular-season opener in Houston. He came up sore after that game, this time with a bone bruise, which shelved him for another five games.

Sounds like Al Jefferson should be back fairly soon for Bobcats

The big addition to the Charlotte Bobcats is Al Jefferson, but the center is still healing, and questionable to start the season. The good news is, it sounds like if he doesn’t play the opener, he should be on the court relatively soon. Here’s the Charlotte Observer:

While Charlotte Bobcats center Al Jefferson is still optimistic he’ll play in Wednesday’s season opener in Houston, the team is listing him as questionable with a sprained right ankle.

Jefferson was hurt early in the preseason when he stepped on the foot of Miami Heat center Chris Bosh and landed awkwardly. He participated in most, but not all, of Monday’s practice after sitting out nearly three weeks.

“He did some contact, some 5-on-5, but not everything,” coach Steve Clifford said.

Jefferson said “in my head” he’s ready to play Wednesday against perennial All-Star Dwight Howard, whom the Rockets signed during the summer.