Al Jefferson panic button engaged!

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Al JeffersonIn case you missed it yesterday, Chris Sheridan did something that usually isn't done in the middle of the season.  He reported a rumor about the San Antonio Spurs.  That trade involved the Utah Jazz and center Al Jefferson.  Sheridan didn't have anything concrete, but he did say any trade would likely involve both Stephen Jackson and Tiago Splitter.  Here's a couple of options on bringing Big Al to San Antonio.

Splitter, Jackson and Patty Mills for Jefferson: This is the one Sheridan suggested and at first glance it seems awfully steep.  Splitter and Jackson are integral parts of the team, but Jackson has been dreadful on offense this season and Splitter for all his positives, isn't the player Jefferson is.  They're different players to be sure, but Jefferson is better and believe it or not, is the same as the Spurs' current starting center.  The question is whether the Spurs would be able to use the rest of the regular season to tweak one of the league's best offenses to include Jefferson's low post oriented offensive game and mostly below average defensive game.  Let's look at a couple other trade options involving the two teams.

Jackson, Matt Bonner and Nando De Colo for Jefferson: This deal clearly depends on Utah's opinion of De Colo as a starting point guard and how much they just want to clear the decks this summer (Bonner's only owed $1 million if waived by the end of June).  Obviously the plus side for the Spurs is getting Jefferson and keeping Splitter, but they'd definitely have to choose between signing one of them this summer.  The Spurs could also sweeten this pot by offering a future draft pick or the rights to Erazem Lorbek or Adam Hanga.

Splitter and Gary Neal to Minnesota, Jackson, Luke Ridnour and De Colo to Utah and Jefferson and Derrick Williams to San Antonio: I'm really just having fun at this point.  Spurs get a bunch of interior help, though their bench is completely overhauled and the chemistry is left in limbo, but again, we're just having fun.  Utah gets Jackson's expiring and a couple of point guards since they don't really have any right now. Minnesota gets guys that have played in Europe, which they love.

Spurs get Chris Paul and Al Jefferson, trade everyone not named Parker, Duncan, Ginobili and BAYNES to the Los Angeles Clippers and Jazz: YOLO!