The Charlotte Hornets reportedly are unlikely to trade Al Jefferson, despite the center having a player option for next season. Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders reported Charlotte has no plans to trade Jefferson unless he indicates to the team he might test free agency.
Jefferson can opt out of his contract next season, which creates the possibility Charlotte might trade him before the February deadline in order to avoid him leaving for free. Kyler, though, said Charlotte is likely to keep Jefferson around unless he gives them reason to believe he might walk in July.
"(Trading Jefferson depends) on the conversations Al has with the team leading up to the deadline," Kyler wrote Wednesday. "If there is a sense that he's going shopping, maybe they look to trade him, but the fact that he just got there bodes well for them keeping him especially if they'll up the money, which they can and likely will."
Jefferson had one of the best seasons of his career with the Charlotte, with whom he averaged 21.8 points and 10.8 rebounds. He played a big part in the Hornets' - then the Bobcats - push into the playoffs, before being hindered by a foot injury in the first round against the Miami Heat and eventually sitting out the fourth game.
Charlotte, though, is an early favorite to make the playoffs again and will need Jefferson's size and his scoring to secure a postseason berth in the slightly improved Eastern Conference. Unless Jefferson is adamant about playing for another team, he'll remain an integral part of the Hornets' plans for a deep postseason run.
