CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It’d be relatively easy to argue that All-Pro center Al Jefferson is the most important part of the Charlotte Hornets roster. Outside of being the lone inside scoring threat, and a very good one at that, he’s also an important cog in the locker room as a team leader.

That’s why it’d be a monumental blow to the future of the Hornets should he choose to opt out of the final year of his three-year, $41 million dollar contract this offseason and explore free agency. He’s set to make $13.5 million next season.

On Monday, Jefferson spoke the most extensively to date about his future with the Hornets.

Will he stay or will he go?

"If I had my way, I’d finish my career here," he said. "I feel like I helped start this and I want to finish it. … I love the city, I love my teammates, I love Coach (Steve Clifford) and the coaching staff. … It’s still something that I have to still talk to my agent any my peeps about, but I can’t see myself leaving, honestly. Right here, right now, I can’t see myself leaving."

But he did leave himself somewhat of an out.

"Honestly, I can’t see myself being somewhere else next year, unless something dramatic changes and I have to do what’s best for me and my family, or Charlotte telling me they don’t want me no more," Jefferson said. "But I personally can’t see myself optioning out and leaving."

This wasn’t the best of years for the 30-year-old Jefferson, who just completed his 11th season.

He had nine-year lows in minutes played (30.6 per game), field goal percentage (48.1) and rebounds (8.4 per game). Jefferson also had an eight-year low in points per game at 16.6.

However, to be fair, Jefferson battled all sorts of injuries seemingly all season. He only played in 65 games, starting 61 of them.

Trying to get healed and fighting for the playoffs preoccupied Jefferson’s mind this year, not whether or not he planned on returning. He hasn’t even had a chance to talk to his childhood friend and teammate, Mo Williams about next season.

Williams is a free agent at the end of the season, but he also said he wants to return next season, too.

"To be honest with you, this is the most I’ve ever talked about it because I’ve been dealing with the injuries," Jefferson said. "We haven’t discussed it, but Mo wanted to come here last year. He’s a great fan of the coaching staff and the things MJ (Michael Jordan) is trying to do around here. He’s trying to turn this thing around and we want to be a part of it."

Jefferson said he has no doubt that this is a team that can win and win now, despite what transpired this season.

"Like I said, we started something," he said. "This year didn’t go the way we wanted it to, but we’ve got this offseason. I think guys are motivated and guys now see how hard you’ve got to work and who you have to be to make it to that next level.

"Everybody’s going into this offseason with a chip on their shoulder."

Follow Brett Jensen on Twitter: @Brett_Jensen