Al Jefferson

In his 11th season, Jefferson averaged 16.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.7 steals, and 1.3 blocks in 31 minutes per game through 65 games. Knee and groin injuries contributed to a bit of a down year for Jefferson, who shot 48 percent from the field and 66 percent from the charity stripe. In 2013-14, he earned All-NBA Third Team honors with averages of 21.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. This summer, Jefferson opted into his $13.5 million contract for 2015-16, and his troublesome knee was cleared by the team's medical staff soon thereafter in June, with the plan being for Jefferson to lose about 25 pounds to help him avoid future injury. The Hornets made a conscious effort to add shooters this offseason, which might make life easier for Jefferson down low. Still, given his recent injury history, he could be considered a risky pick. Entering the final year of his contract, Jefferson turns 31 in January.

After essentially putting up MVP-type numbers over the second half of last season, it's hard to forecast what Al Jefferson can do for an encore in his second season with Charlotte. After the All-Star break, he averaged 24.5 points and 11.2 rebounds while shooting 53 percent from the field to lead Charlotte to its first playoff appearance since 2010. Part of the reason for Jefferson's success was his ability to hit shots from mid-range and in. Jefferson made more field goals from inside of 16 feet than anybody last season, but the Hornets have more offensive weapons than they did last year, and Jefferson turns 30 in January. They'd be wise not to rely on the big man as much (despite his success) in 2014-15. The end is in no way near, but it's more than reasonable to suspect Jefferson's numbers to drop just a little this season. In fact, our projections call for him to drop off roughly three points per game from last season.

Jefferson took a slight step back during the 2012-13 campaign, as his scoring (17.8), rebounding (9.2) and blocks (1.1) all dipped slightly from the previous season. Despite the marginal drop in his statistical averages, Jefferson largely remained the same player we've come to expect through the years: An efficient, high-scoring big man who racks up double-doubles while struggling on defense. The 28-year-old veteran will suit up for the Bobcats this season after Charlotte handed him a three-year, $41-million deal this past summer. The move gives Charlotte a legitimate low-post threat, and given the lack of other options on the team and overall inexperience of his new running mates, Jefferson may be in line for a usage rate bump this year. Expect more of the same from Jefferson, with the possibility for an increase in production.

In 2011-12, Jefferson put together his best season since suffering an ACL tear back in his right knee back during the 2008-09 season. The Jazz center finished with averages of 19.2 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting 49.2 percent from the floor and a career-high 77.4 from the charity stripe. Utah has two young big men to build around with Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter, but Jefferson will open the season as the team’s starting center and primary scorer once again. He is entering the final year of his contract, though, so Jefferson will be a candidate to be traded before the deadline. But even if Jefferson does get moved, it would likely be for a team that wants him to play a similar role. The 27-year-old center may never return to the 23-point, 11-rebound levels we saw from him prior to his ACL injury, but he has proven to still be one of the better low-post scorers in the league while managing to stay relatively healthy the past three seasons. His best years may be behind him, but Jefferson is still young enough to be a quality fantasy center for a handful of years if his body continues to hold up.

Jefferson was traded from Minnesota to Utah prior to the 2010-11 season. His debut season with the Jazz got off to a slow start, but by the end of the year, Jefferson looked more like the 20-10 monster we saw during his best campaigns with the Timberwolves. After averaging a respectable 17.4 points and 9.1 rebounds prior to the All-Star break, Jefferson erupted for averages of 21.5 points and 11.0 rebounds over the final 25 games of the regular season. Never known as much of a free-throw shooter, Jefferson showed vast improvements in that area last year, hitting a career-best 76.1 percent. Big Al also reclaimed his status as one of the more productive shot blockers in the Association, swatting away 1.8 attempts per game. Most importantly, Jefferson managed to stay healthy and play a full 82-game schedule for just the second time in his career. He’s now two years removed from ACL surgery, and while it’s always worth noting his injury history, Jefferson has proven he’s back to the form we saw pre-surgery. The Jazz are in rebuilding mode for the first time in decades, with Jefferson being one of the new cornerstones. At 26, and with a bevy of low-post scoring moves at his disposal, Jefferson should shoulder the scoring load in Utah.

After averaging at least 11.0 rpg over the previous three years, Jefferson hauled in 9.3 last season while returning from ACL surgery. He should be much closer to 100 percent this year, and while his defense has come into question, few big men have superior low post games in the NBA. He's a double-double waiting to happen, and with better health and natural improvement at age 25, it wouldn't shock us if Jefferson approached 25.0 ppg. He's not a good free throw shooter (69.3% for his career) but he also limits turnovers (just 1.8 tpg over the past two seasons). Jefferson was traded (given away for some insane reason) to Utah, and while most changes in scenery create an unknown, with the Jazz losing Carlos Boozer, it sure seems like Jefferson will play a major role. He may no longer be the only good player on his team, but with Deron Williams dishing the ball, the huge upgrade in teammates and offensive systems should have a positive effect, even if it means fewer shot attempts (which even if so, should be marginal). If Jefferson can acclimate himself to Utah's patented pick and roll, huge numbers could be in store. His situation has really improved with the trade, and with another year removed from surgery, there's big upside here.

Jefferson was well on his way to cementing a place among elite fantasy big men last season before suffering a season-ending ACL tear in his right knee. At the time of his injury, Jefferson was averaging 23.1 ppg and 11 rpg, making him the only player besides Dwight Howard to average at least 20 points and 11 rebounds during the 2008-09 season. On top of being a double-double machine, Jefferson set personal bests in free-throw percentage (73.8) and blocks (1.7). Jefferson underwent successful surgery to repair his torn ACL in February and has been making a speedy recovery, putting him on pace to be ready when camp opens. When he rejoins the team, Jefferson will see plenty of changes as the Timberwolves brought in Kurt Rambis to run the ship. Rambis is installing a fast-paced offense to take advantage of Minnesota’s youth. In preparation for the new system, Jefferson’s cutting his playing weight from 288 to 265. Regardless of the offense Minnesota runs, Jefferson will be the focal point. With a low-post game that relies on footwork and basketball IQ instead of athleticism or explosiveness, Jefferson is the type of player who should be able to return to form quickly from an injury as severe as a torn ACL, so don’t downgrade him come draft day.

Jefferson entered last season known mainly as the “guy traded for Kevin Garnett”, but by the end of the year he had made his own name as one of only four 20-point/10-rebound players in the NBA. Jefferson has one of the most polished offensive post-games in the league, using excellent footwork and an array of nifty shot fakes to overcome his lack of elite athleticism to score against any defender. Jefferson needs to improve as a passer (1.4 apg) and at the line (72% FT on 4.8 attempts/game) in order to reach the highest levels, but he still managed to score 20-plus points on 50 percent shooting. Minnesota has more perimeter offensive threats this season, which should give Jefferson more room to operate. On defense, his combined 2.4 blocks/steals per game are respectable numbers that need only to improve slightly to become a strength. Jefferson is still very young – if he had gone to college this upcoming year would be his rookie season, so he still has plenty of upside to correct his weaknesses and join the elite.

Jefferson came alive in the second half of last season by averaging 19.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 1.1 steals, while knocking down 55 percent of his field goal attempts in 25 games after the All-Star Break for the injury-depleted Celtics. An offseason trade to Minnesota guarantees that Jefferson will continue to be an offensive focal point, this year for an extremely young Timberwolves team. Jefferson has one of the most polished offensive post-games in the NBA, but health is a concern, as Jefferson has missed an average of 18 games over the last two seasons and has never been a full-time starter. On the other hand, his upside as a 22-year old franchise player on a young squad will have him off the board early in the draft.

Jefferson’s second season in the NBA was supposed to be his coming out party, but conditioning issues and injuries nagged him all year before eventually an ankle injury ended his season. In his absence, then-rookie Ryan Gomes came in and showed that he can play at a high level. The Celtics would prefer for Jefferson to be their PF of the future with his more prototypical size and strength (6-10, 265 pounds), but Jefferson will have to show that he can physically handle it. Jefferson has the ability to be a nightly double-double threat if he gets the minutes, as he averaged 7.9 ppg and 5.0 rpg last season in only 18 minutes per game.

The Celtics thought highly enough of the 20-year-old Jefferson to let Antoine Walker leave town, and Jefferson should reward them for their faith in 2005-06. Jefferson averaged 6.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks in just under 15 minutes per game: give him 35 minutes, which he's likely to get this year, and you're looking at a guy who can give you double-doubles with one or two blocks most of the time. Jefferson lost some playing time when the Celtics acquired Walker, which stunted his development to some extent, but he showed what he could do in game 6 of the Pacers series in the playoffs, putting up 11 points and 14 huge rebounds. Jermaine O'Neal showed his first signs of stardom at age 21, putting up 12.9 points and 9.8 boards per game, and we expect similar production out of Jefferson this season.

The Celtics must be elated that Jefferson was available midway through the first round. He's got a mature body and the game in the paint to go with it, so don't be surprised to see double-digit points from him. He'll fight for rebounds, but not on defense. Conditioning and polish are also question marks. Still, he should outshine Swift, Biedrins and Araujo this year.

Jefferson's greatest attributes are his great strength in the paint and his low post scoring, averaging 42 ppg in his senior season at high school. His physical stature draws constant comparisons to Eddy Curry. Jefferson isn't a great athlete and was out of shape until he trimmed 20 pounds off his frame in the past year. He has verbally committed to Arkansas, but he will declare for the NBA draft. Jefferson projects to be a mid to late first round pick.