Al Jefferson Rumors

Even so, the Bobcats and Walker stagnated in Year 2 together. At the end of that season, Walker called his agent, Jeff Schwartz, and told him he needed help, Schwartz says. Schwartz mentioned that another of his clients, Al Jefferson, was about to hit free agency. Walker and Jefferson eventually met up, and Walker pitched the possibility of making the playoffs in Charlotte. “I thought it was a joke at first,” says Jefferson, who returned from China a few days ago after a brief stint playing there. “Playoffs? Come on.” Jefferson joined, and the Bobcats doubled their win total before the Miami Heat swept them in the first round. And yet: Walker’s shooting numbers got worse. He was up for an extension that fall. Schwartz wanted $12 million per season. Charlotte’s offer topped out at $10 million. As the Oct. 31 deadline approached, Walker pushed Schwartz to accept Charlotte’s offer. If Schwartz wouldn’t, Walker threatened to call the team and do it himself, according to both. (Charlotte ponied up $12 million in the end.)