HoopsHype.com Rumors

"The only team I’m looking at right now is the Utah Jazz as a good fit," Jefferson said, "because it’s the team I’m with right now. I don’t think outside of the box like that." Salt Lake Tribune

Utah Jazz, Al Jefferson 

Jody Genessy: Al Jefferson said he isn't thinking of free agency: "I'm with the Utah Jazz and we're trying to climb over this mountain we have right now." Twitter @DJJazzyJody

Utah Jazz, Free Agency, Al Jefferson 

Al Jefferson knows a little something about signing a big contract. He did so with the Wolves in 2007, when he signed a five-year, $65 million deal that his agent urged him to refuse. So when asked about former teammate Kevin Love's continued unhappiness -- as expressed to Yahoo! Sports last month -- with a four-year, $61 million-plus deal he signed last year, he had his own take on the matter. "To me, he accepted the deal, he signed the deal, move on from it," said Jefferson, who shares the same agent with Love. "It was his decision to sign the deal. You don't want the deal, you don't take the deal." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz, Al Jefferson, Kevin Love 

Steve Luhm: Al Jefferson says his New Year's resolution is to "be a nicer person (pause) ... to the media." Twitter @sluhm

Utah Jazz, Al Jefferson 

I don’t think so. While he was partially responsible for Jerry Sloan leaving the Utah Jazz, I’ve been told that Al Jefferson also played a large role in that. I don’t blame him for Avery Johnson either because it sounds like this was Mikhail Prokhorov’s decision and everyone was blindsided. The players didn’t see this coming, from what I’ve heard. HoopsWorld

Utah Jazz, Al Jefferson, Coaching, Jerry Sloan 

The Jazz view themselves as a playoff contender, and as long as that remains the case dealing a player like Millsap or even Jefferson remains a low-priority items, according to sources. Of the two, Millsap seems to be the easiest player to trade, mainly because Jazz reserve Derrick Favors is clearly ready to play a bigger role. Moving Al Jefferson is a bit of a different story because his back up, Enes Kanter, isn’t nearly as evolved. Several of the Jazz players that spoke with HOOPSWORLD said they believed Favors was clearly ready for a bigger role, although Kanter, while having shown flashes of ability this season, still has more work to do, especially on his body. HoopsWorld

Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz, Trade, Al Jefferson, Derrick Favors, Enes Kanter 

League sources peg Al Jefferson as the would-be free agent most likely to stay in Utah, mainly because they can pay him more money. The problem is will the Jazz value Jefferson as a max level player like maybe some other teams will? The Jazz have maintained from the start of the season that they would need their depth to compete in the postseason and that trading off Jefferson and Paul Millsap would only weaken the team, regardless of what they got back for them. The Jazz are currently 14-13 and sitting just outside the Western Conferen HoopsWorld

Utah Jazz, Trade, Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap 

Utah is facing a logjam and luxury tax issues with its surplus of big men, and most around the league think that the Jazz will ultimately move Millsap and his expiring $8.6 million deal rather than Al Jefferson, who also has an expiring deal, at $15 million. "They can't pay both of them, so I think they'll choose Jefferson, just because of [third-year forward Derrick] Favors," one GM said, thinking Jefferson and Favors are a better match. "I might be wrong, but one of them has to go." NBA.com

Utah Jazz, Trade, Al Jefferson 

The Utah Jazz are in the playoff hunt and have two starting big men in the last years of their deals in Millsap and Al Jefferson. Utah also has two talented young big men in Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter. Any big move by new general manager Dennis Lindsey, however, could disrupt Utah's playoff hopes. "I would think they would more likely trade Millsap over Jefferson because he is going to be harder to keep," one GM said. "He's made less money than Jefferson and he will go to the highest bidder." Yahoo! Sports

Utah Jazz, Trade, Al Jefferson, Derrick Favors 

It's a working assumption in front offices all over the league that the Jazz will trade Al Jefferson or Paul Millsap for a front-line point guard at some point during the next 10 weeks. For two reasons. 1. Jefferson and Millsap will be free agents in July, meaning that Utah risks losing both without compensation if they're still on the roster beyond Feb. 21. 2. Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter are the undeniable power players of the future in Utah, even though Jefferson is one of only five players this season averaging 17 and 10 -- along with Dwight Howard, David Lee, Kevin Love and Zach Randolph -- and despite Millsap's status as the most productive forward from the 2006 draft not named LaMarcus Aldridge. ESPN.com

Utah Jazz, Trade, Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap 

What team do you envision making the first "big" trade this season? Chad Ford (1:12 PM): Everyone is looking at the Jazz right now. Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson could really help a veteran team. They are in the last year of their contracts. The Jazz want to clear more time for Derrick Favors. They have all the pieces to make a big deal with someone. Clearly the Lakers are looking in the mirror right now and trying to upgrade their athleticism/defense. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Utah Jazz, Trade, Al Jefferson 

Steve Luhm: Jazz Al Jefferson hadn't heard about Grinnell player who scored 138 points in a game. His reaction: "Did they win?" Twitter @sluhm

Utah Jazz, Al Jefferson, NCAA 

Steve Luhm: Great post-game reaction from Jefferson to my question about another slow start: "We were down 7-0?" Twitter @sluhm

Utah Jazz, Al Jefferson 

An interview with a gaggle of Boston reporters did not start well when a reporter said to Jefferson that Jefferson had indicated last year he wanted to come back to Boston. After the game, Jefferson was still upset about that interlude, asking a reporter who was an eyewitness to the interview session to verify for a Jazz official that he hadn't said he wanted to come back to Boston. The interview session led to headlines such as, "Jefferson would 'love' to return to Boston," on Boston websites. Deseret News

Boston Celtics, Utah Jazz, Al Jefferson 

As Tommy Heinsohn said, the young core of Al Jefferson, Rajon Rondo, Kendrick Perkins, Tony Allen and Delonte West were “like puppies: Every time you saw them, you wanted to pet them.” “We used to have a lot of laughs together, because when I was here, things weren’t going too well as far as winning,” said Jefferson. “But we always had the locker room live with me, [Rondo], Tony Allen, Kendrick Perkins and Delonte West. We all kept it live, and we were fun guys to be around. In the time we were here, when we were losing, we hardly ever got blown out. It was always close games, but we were just such a young team, we didn’t know how to finish those games. I knew if we could’ve stayed together, things could’ve got better for us.” WEEI.com

Boston Celtics, Al Jefferson, Rajon Rondo, Delonte West, Kendrick Perkins, Tony Allen 

Strange how things have come full circle in Boston from Jefferson’s perspective. The aging Garnett, who continues “punking” Big Al years after being traded for one another, and the young Rondo he once knew as a teammate have become one and the same — best friends leading the C’s on opposite ends of the floor. “Doc does a great job taking [Garnett] out early and having him in there for crunch time,” said Jefferson. “By him being out there, he doesn’t really have to score a lot of points, he doesn’t really have to be big-time on offense, but just his presence out there on defense has really helped that team. It’s amazing watching.” WEEI.com

Boston Celtics, Al Jefferson, Kevin Garnett 

Jefferson has said he's focused on doing all he can to get the Jazz back to the playoffs for the second straight year, but added that he would consider a return to Boston when he becomes a free agent. CSNNE.com

Boston Celtics, Utah Jazz, Free Agency, Al Jefferson 

"This is my first home," said Jefferson, who added that he loves it in Utah because they do things the right way, "kind of like Boston." "This will always be my home away from home, first place I've been; gave me a chance when nobody else did," added Jefferson. "If that (returning to Boston) ever happened, I'd love to do that again. But right now, it's all about taking care of business and finishing the season off right." CSNNE.com

Boston Celtics, Utah Jazz, Free Agency, Al Jefferson 

A lot of things would have to fall into place. First, Jefferson would have to turn down what he considers to be a situation in Salt Lake City that he says compares very favorably to Boston. “We haven’t had any conversations,” Jefferson said before his match up with the Celtics Wednesday night. “This is all about going out and taking care of business. If I go out and take care of my business, everything else will work itself out. I’m not really concerned about it.” WEEI.com

Boston Celtics, Utah Jazz, Al Jefferson 

Jefferson is making $15 million in the final year of his deal in Utah. “I want to be in the NBA,” Jefferson said. “When both teams want me, that’s when I need to start worrying. Right now, I just want to be in the NBA, I want to be with the Utah Jazz to be honest with you. I’d love to stay in Utah. They do things the right way, kind of remind me of Boston, first class. They do everything the right way. They have to do what’s best for their team and I have to do what’s best for my family. Right now, it’s all about winning and getting back to the playoffs. “I’ll cross that bridge when I get there. You really don’t want to think too far ahead. You have to take care of business day-by-day. If I do my part, everything will work out.” WEEI.com

Boston Celtics, Utah Jazz, Al Jefferson