Minnesota Timberwolves: Should They Give Al Jefferson One More Year?

Stephen Dunn/Getty ImagesAre the Minnesota Timberwolves ready to trade away arguably the best low post scorer in the NBA?Are they ready to trade away their only legit All-Star caliber player?Are they ready to trade away a guaranteed 20+ points and 10+ rebounds?Minnesota Timberwolves' forward Al Reebok Washington Redskins #98 ORAKPO Realtree camo Jersey
Jefferson has been on the trading block for a while now, and it looks almost inevitable that he will be traded, only for something significant I presume, at least that's what David Kahn states.But what I seriously am starting to think about is, who's going to score? Who's going to draw double teams? Who's going to provide that veteranship that Minnesota is going to need?Is it that the Minnesota Timberwolves fanbase had a change of heart?One year, Al Jefferson was a low post beast, averaging 23 points and 11 rebounds, with nearly two blocks a game. That Al Jefferson was feared, and revered as the best scoring big in the NBA.He goes down with a tore ACL injury, and in a little more than half a year, goes on to average 17 points and nine rebounds.It takes NBA players at least two years to recover Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers 43 Troy Polamalu Realtree camo Jersey
from that injury, yet Al Jefferson played through the pain and turmoil, not just physicall, but emotionally.The death of his grandmother, his knee aching and bothering him, the constant pain and losing, and the fact is that Al's confidence was on the decline.This summer is extremely important to Al Jefferson. He wants to be an All-star in the NBA, and word is he's working harder than ever to regain his All-Star status.If the Wolves desire to be a running/cutting/ and shooting team, having a post presence in the middle can draw double teams, and ultimately, the ball can be passed out of the post to open shooters. While Al isn't very skilled at this, he showed some flash playing next to Darko Milicic, who's an excellent passer out of the double team.I think Al Jefferson has been undervalued by the Wolves. He's been ridiculed for his defensive awareness, but the whole team was bad on defense, horrific in fact. He's been blamed for not showing up in the fourth quarter, but the Wolves haven't been in many late game situations for him to show up, and when they are, he does.He underwent a four game stretch in which he shot over 80 percent in 4th quarters, when the Wolves won four games in a row last season.I don't know, but I don't think I would be ready to part with him just yet.In his Boston Reebok Green Bay Packers 21 Charles Woodson Realtree camo Jersey
Celtics days, Al Jefferson was slightly more athletic, and he even ran the floor a little bit better.I'm hoping that Al stays, especially if the Wolves aren't offered anything significant. It seems premature for him to be traded right now.Think about it.