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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Charlotte Bobcats agreed on Thursday to a three-year, $40.5 million contract with free agent centre Al Jefferson from the Utah Jazz, said people familiar with the situation. Jefferson will make $13.5 million in each year of the deal, with the third season being a player option. The people spoke to The Associated Press on Thursday on condition of anonymity because the deal hasnt become official. The contract cannot be signed until July 10 when the NBAs moratorium on signing new deals is lifted. Jefferson, 28, gives the Bobcats a much-needed scoring threat in the low post, where they struggled last season. He should also help on the boards, where the Bobcats were repeatedly outrebounded the last two seasons. The 6-foot-10, 289-pound Jefferson has averaged 18.8 points and 10 rebounds per game over the last seven seasons. Last season, his third with the Jazz, he averaged 17.8 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists. The Boston Celtics selected Jefferson out of high school in Mississippi with the No. 15 pick in the 2004 draft. During a nine-year NBA career, Jefferson also played two seasons for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He has career averages of 16.4 points, 9 rebounds and 1.5 assists. Jefferson was among four high-profile free agents who played last season with the Jazz, along with Paul Millsap, Mo Williams and Randy Foye. Utah went 43-39 and missed the playoffs for the second time in three years. Acquired by the Jazz in a July 2010 trade, Jefferson earned $15 million last season and led the team in both scoring and rebounding. After the 2012-13 season ended, Jefferson told reporters he believed he improved his overall game while in Utah. "I have showed Im not just the black hole reputation I had years ago," Jefferson said in April of never passing the ball back out of the post. "I showed people that I can do other things." In April, Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin praised Jefferson for his contributions in Utah. "I think hes done a great job, coming in, being known as an offensive player, getting numbers," Corbin said. "And hes gotten numbers here, but theyve helped us win a lot of games. Hes been healthy. Hes always ready and willing to play and likes to be on the floor and I think hes been a great guy with this team of guys." Jefferson, who was given credit for helping develop young players Derrick Favours and Enes Kanter, said then that it was emotional to say goodbye to his Jazz teammates at the abrupt end of the season. The Jazz finished just out of the playoffs in ninth place in the Western Conference. "Theres no way in the world every one of these guys will be here next year, all together," Jefferson said. Jefferson becomes the best low post scoring threat the Bobcats have had in nine years in the NBA. Last year, the Bobcats started a combination of Brendan Haywood, Byron Mullens, Bismack Biyombo and Josh McRoberts at centre. Gana Diop, their other big man, rarely played. Jefferson was ranked as the third-best centre on the free agent market by CBSSports.com behind Dwight Howard and Andrew Bynum. He joins a Bobcats team in dire need of star players. The Bobcats are just 28-120 over the past two seasons, and their biggest high-profile player is second-year point guard Kemba Walker. Cheap Sparky Anderson Jersey . Calgarys Bo Levi Mitchell and Montreals Troy Smith will be the starting quarterbacks in a CFL season-opener for the first time in their careers. Both want to reinforce their No. 1 status. You can watch the game live in the first half of a doubleheader on TSN and TSN GO at 3:00pm et/Noon pt. Cheap Tigers Jerseys ." 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Manning completed 32-of-37 passes and had a passer rating of 135.LONDON -- Arsenal has taken internal action against goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny for making an offensive hand gesture after being sent off in the 2-0 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday. Szczesny was red-carded for taking out Bayerns Arjen Robben in the penalty area, and the Poland goalie made the gesture before walking down the tunneel.dddddddddddd. UEFA has yet to confirm whether Szczesny will be cited, but Wenger said on Friday that he was reprimanded by the club. "We dont agree with that," Wenger said. "(The gesture) was frustration, but we are professionals, me included, and we have always to master reactions. Wojciech is part of that as well." ' ' '