This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A jovial Al Jefferson wasn't talking about his future with the Jazz on Thursday — if there is one.Utah's leading scorer this season, Jefferson becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1. One of management's major decisions during what will likely be a hectic off-season will be whether to try and bring Jefferson back to Utah. He will undoubtedly get big-money offers from other teams.For now, however, Jefferson isn't discussing his contract situation."We'll cross that bridge when I get there," he said.Asked if he's talked to management about what needs to be done to make the Jazz a playoff team and legitimate contender, Jefferson laughed."That's something that we talked about," Jefferson said. "[But] it's secret. We don't discuss the business [with the media], you know? But I feel real good about it."Jefferson, 28, just finished his ninth season in the NBA. He has spent the last three years in Utah, where he claims to have grown as a player and a person.Asked to explain, Jefferson said, "I can't put it into too many words. Just the outlook on everything. Just about being a professional. Not only being professional on the court but being professional off the court, too. We're all grown men, so they're not going to hold your hand to make sure you're doing the right things. You have to take care of your body. You have to be ready to play. That's where you have to come in." — Steve Luhm