"I didn't even think I was worth max [money] this year anyway

[BDodgers at aol.com]

Wolves sign Jefferson
Rather than waiting, rising star takes $65 million deal
 

 
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- _Al Jefferson_ 
(http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/players/3832)  could have waited until next summer to sign a contract 
extension with the _Minnesota Timberwolves_ 
(http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/teams/timberwolves) . 
In fact, that was what his agent advised him to do, hoping that a big season 
and his status as a restricted free agent would have brought the 22-year-old 
power forward the highest contract allowable under league rules. 
Jefferson ignored that advice and signed a five-year, $65 million deal just 
before the deadline Wednesday night. In the era of "Show me the money!" and 
"bling bling," Jefferson's reason was stunningly humble. 
"I didn't even think I was worth max [money] this year anyway," Jefferson 
said at a news conference Thursday. "I would've been a fool to go up there and 
ask for max, having not really proved myself for that. So the number I got was 
the number that was my goal from Day 1. And I think it was a win, win 
situation." 
At an average salary of $13 million per season that starts next year, 
Jefferson certainly won't be starving. But Timberwolves vice president of basketball 
operations Kevin McHale said that had Jefferson signed a max deal, he would 
have been entitled to 25 percent of Minnesota's salary cap. 
Depending on where the cap is set in each of the next six years, Jefferson 
likely would have made more than $15 million per season. 
"I can tell you around the league, 85 percent of the people feel they're 
worth max," McHale said with a chuckle. "Al's in the minority of 15 percent that 
doesn't believe he deserves max." 
Copyright 2007 _Associated Press_ 
(http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/interactive_legal.html#AP) 



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