Spurs' Jefferson a new piece for new era
By Mike Monroe - Express-News Stepping off a private jet onto the tarmac at San Antonio International Airport on Wednesday, Richard Jefferson felt a blast of triple-digit heat boiling up from the blacktop and believed he finally had arrived in the place his NBA career was meant to be.
Born in Los Angeles, raised in Phoenix, and with a summer home in San Diego, the newest Spur had no problem adjusting to the sizzling temperatures that have kept most South Texans seeking artificially cooled interiors for nearly two weeks.
“Everyone is talking about how hot it is here,” Jefferson said. “But this feels like home to me.”
Home is a relative concept in professional sports, but Jefferson has reason to believe San Antonio could be his final stop before retirement. His acquisition Tuesday in a three-team trade that involved the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons was the first step in what Spurs general manager R.C. Buford called “transitioning our team into a new era.”
If the next three seasons are to be the last of the Tim Duncan era — Duncan's contract expires after the 2011-12 season, when he will be 36 — All-NBA point guard Tony Parker, All-Star Manu Ginobili and former U.S. Olympian Jefferson will be the prime pieces of the Spurs' post-Duncan era.
For now, Jefferson is content to be relevant again after a cold winter in Milwaukee, where he had a hard landing that followed the first trade of his career.
Unhappy about leaving New Jersey last summer, Jefferson's frustration was perceived in Wisconsin as disrespect. The fact he didn't show up there to speak with reporters for nearly two weeks after the trade didn't help.
In stark contrast, his quick visit to San Antonio, less than 24 hours after learning about the trade while en route to the funeral of his girlfriend's great-grandmother, made a good first impression on South Texans.
Jefferson's lasting effect will depend on his ability to help the Spurs position themselves for a run at another NBA le. Kiki Vandeweghe, the Nets' general manager who helped orchestrate his departure from New Jersey, has no doubt Jefferson's presence has made the Spurs the primary threat to the Lakers in the Western Conference.
“First off, understand that Richard was one of my favorite players when he was here, a really great player,” Vandeweghe said. “We didn't make that trade (with Milwaukee) because we didn't love Richard. We made it because we were going in a different direction.”
Money management dictated the Nets' direction. Trading the final three seasons of Jefferson's six-year, $76 million contract made sense to a team positioning for the 2010 free-agent market.
“But, if you have a team already set to compete for a championship, you want a Richard Jefferson type of player,” Vandeweghe said. “The Spurs made a great, great move. They already had a great team, and they improved it dramatically. They upped the ante for everybody out West.”
New Orleans Hornets coach Byron Scott, Jefferson's coach in New Jersey through 2004-05, would like to disagree but can't.
“I wasn't happy when I heard about that trade,” said Scott, whose Hornets won the Southwest Division in 2007-08 and engaged the Spurs in a memorable, seven-game Western Conference semifinal playoff series. “That was a steal for the Spurs. I just think he's a of a player.”
Scott called Jefferson “the ultimate teammate.”
“This guy just wanted to win, and he would do whatever it took,” he said. “I loved him because he was so personable, and as honest as they come. He's definitely not a headache for a coach.”
Whatever it takes
Jefferson's willingness to adapt his game to the needs of the team will be vital to his transition to the Spurs, who already have a Big Three. He said settling into a lesser role will be simple.
“I've been very fortunate most of my career to be on teams with two All-Stars,” Jefferson said. “(Jason) Kidd and Kenyon (Martin), J. Kidd and Vince (Carter), multiple-time All-Stars. The best teams I've been on have had multiple guys who could carry a load.”
Jefferson was asked to be the featured scorer for the Bucks after Michael Redd and Andrew Bogut were injured before midseason.
“The one thing I've been very fortunate to have is versatility, in the sense that if they need me to play defense, if the need me to score, if they need me to post up, I'm able to accomplish that,” Jefferson said.
What the Spurs need most from Jefferson is his ability to get to the foul line. He averaged 7.3 free throws per game each of the past two seasons and is a career 78 percent foul shooter. Duncan, with a career free-throw percentage of 68.5, averaged 6.2 trips last season.
Jefferson's athleticism and driving ability fill what Spurs coach Gregg Popovich called the team's most pressing need after his team's first-round playoff elimination in April — more firepower.
“What I mean by firepower is just basic talent that's athletic enough to compete for a championship,” Popovich said. “That firepower can mean scoring, as far as getting to the rim, getting to the free-throw line, shooting. Richard shot 39-and-a-smidge (percent) from three, which is fantastic, and he can get to the free-throw line, which we had trouble doing, because Manu, Tim and Tony are the ones that get to the free-throw line the most. Timmy is shooting more jump shots these days and not getting there as often. So having another body who really gets to the line is important.”
Popovich said he would ask Jefferson to focus “kind of backwards,” to return to a status as one of the league's better perimeter defenders. Jefferson will be happy to expend less energy on the offensive end and more on defense.
“The past few seasons, I've been more of an offensive player, out of necessity, given the roles of our team, in New Jersey and Milwaukee,” Jefferson said. “Now that I won't be needed to score 20 points a night, to just go out there and put up whatever numbers come my way and really focus on the defensive end, that's something that I did when I first came into this league. And that team had quite a bit of success in New Jersey because we were a defensive team.
“To get back to those things, I'll make sure I'm in shape for the beginning of camp and get ready for that.”
If he works out in the searing heat of South Texas, it won't take long.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/s...r_new_era.html
One of Monroe's better article. Nicely done
Jefferson is going to be such a good fit. He's built to be a complementary player and seems perfectly happy in that role. As a fourth option who will concentrate on defense and running the court, he should excel.
can't wait for the start of the season.
Two things I took from this article:
1. Love the at ude of both Jefferson and R.C. Buford. We all know that getting Richard was a steal, but this is the first time the front office has really brought up the aspects of the move going forward. With Tim and Manu seeming to be upon the twilight of their careers, the addition of a 29-year-old star cannot be overlooked. Combine his talents with Parker coming to his prime, and perhaps the Spurs can even hope to prop the window open beyond 2012. Glad to see both sides seem willing to make that scenario a possibility.
2. I can't help but notice that more and more, the media is hinting that Duncan will not return after this contract. While this would come as no big surprise to most of us, I hate to see these sort of reports because it almost feels like it's softening up the public for the inevitable. If Timmy were going to hint towards playing longer, it seems like he would've done it by now.
I don't think Duncan plays beyond this contract. I haven't for a long time, his knees this season cemented it for me. It's not a matter of if he can play, as people always point out his game can probably hold up for years. I just think he'll be done. His resume is outstanding, he'll go out as one of the all-time greats. His family will still be young, he'll have more time with them. And add in his knees, and possibly playing in pain from here on, I think he'll hang it up in 2012.
I hope I'm wrong, I'd like to see him play as long as possible. But I just don't see it.
With Jefferson's arrival and the coming of Blair, I can see where Timmy sacrifices his game even more to help them make the transition. Timmy can take it a bit easier with more guys to help carry the load w/c means he'll be fresher as the season progresses into the playoffs. I just wish he can finish next season the way he started last season -- really dominant and full of energy.
Unfortunately, I wholeheartedly agree. And for everything he's done for us, he deserves to hang 'em up when he wants to.
Just no fun to think about.
Most importantly though, he gives them, FINALLY, another slasher on the wing.One of Monroe's better article. Nicely done
Jefferson is going to be such a good fit. He's built to be a complementary player and seems perfectly happy in that role. As a fourth option who will concentrate on defense and running the court, he should excel.
Someone who can break down the D, get in the lane, get to the line and get some FTs.
Definately someone to have out there when Ginobili is not on the court.
I agree with D228, I don't see Timmy playing beyond his current contract. Folks should enjoy these last couple of years and if you ever get the opportunity to watch Duncan live at the arena please do so, we probably won't see another era like this in SA again.
I'm real big about a team getting to the free-throw line, so Jeff's addition along with Blair, Hill and Mahinmi (who've both shown a knack for getting to the line) is a definite plus.(That's at least: Tim, Jeff, Manu, Hill, Blair, Mahinmi, and maybe Hairston who've shown an above average knack for getting to the line now. Not bad.)What the Spurs need most from Jefferson is his ability to get to the foul line. He averaged 7.3 free throws per game each of the past two seasons and is a career 78 percent foul shooter.
I've never been the biggest R.J. fan but I've got to admit, his addition keeps looking better and better.
Hopefully, his outside shooting continues on this positive trend and he makes a smooth transition in his first year in the Spurs' system.
Being 29, he literally might be at the peak of his athletic career. It actually wouldn't shock me if in these next two years, you see the best Jeff will ever have to offer.
Now, the transitioning to the Spurs' system, as I mentioned, could put a damper on that and prevent us from seeing that right off the bat, but let's hope he figures it out pretty quickly.:fingerscrossed
Players who've played in some sort of motion offense don't have as steep a learning curve as others, at least on the offensive side of the ball. NJ ran the Princeton offense, and I believe Washington ran a variation of that while Mason was there. If he struggles, it will be on defense, as he learns the rotations and covers.
It's funny that no one is saying, "Jefferson, 29, will soon be into his 30s and be just another one of the "old" Spurs who need younger players.
Nice article, Monroe. Jefferson will be perfect for the Spurs. We could have used him the past two seasons but, I'm glad he is now a Spur. #5 is just around the corner!
i figured this...but hearing it from you, duncan228, really hits it home, and just makes it even that more sad. :/
Yeah, Washington and New Jersey both play a Princeton-type offense (You can thank Eddie Jordan) and I'm not extremely worried about the offense.
The point I was making was, Jeff, had he been going into his 29th year in an offense he'd been in for at least 3 years or so, would most likely be playing the best ball he'd ever play in his career. The athleticism and knowledge would essentially be as close as it's ever going to get, before the inevitable decline in athleticism.
The fact that he's coming to a new team and one of the most complex playbooks (offensively and defensively) in the league, it's possible that the transitioning/thinking that's going to be taking place could prevent his peak from ever being fully seen.
Now, that doesn't mean he won't be fantastic or it's impossible for him to overcome the obstacle, just that it's there, and that we should all have our collective fingers crossed that he clears it with flying colors.
Will be interesting to see what the Spurs lineup will be in November 2012.
I can't imagine Ginobili at age 35 still being a "prime piece", and if Jefferson is still here, do you think he'd be one of the top players besides Tony?
That one of the things that I like more on this trade.
RJ can go to the line. Last season he got more FTA than anyone on the Spurs team
Duncan 228, I know it's probably true, but I can't even think about that right know. It will be such a painful time. I just can't see the Spurs without Timmy.
.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
