Veteran small forward Richard Jefferson of the Cleveland Cavaliers announced that he will return for his 17th season. Jefferson made the announcement on his podcast “Road Trippin’” that he will be back with the Cavaliers for one more year. He is expected to earn a guaranteed $2.5 million next season, according to Alex Kennedy of HoopsHype.
Last season, Jefferson averaged 5.7 points and 2.6 rebounds in 20.4 minutes of action. He played 79 games, with 13 starts, when J.R. Smith went down with an injury. However, it was reported that the 2017-18 season will be his last.
Jefferson also considered retirement last season but signed a three-year deal worth $7.6 million with the Cavs. However, his 2018-19 salary of $2.6 million is non-guaranteed.
A 13th overall pick by the Houston Rockets in 2001, Jefferson played seven seasons with the then-New Jersey Nets before bouncing around from 2008 to 2015, playing for the Milwaukee Bucks, San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz, Dallas Mavericks and even the Golden State Warriors. He signed with the Cavaliers during the 2015-16 season and was instrumental in their title run that year.
In 1,161 career games, Jefferson averaged 12.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists. He had his best season in his last year with the Nets, averaging 22.6 points in 82 regular-season games.
Cavs quiet during free agency
The Cavs were expected to pursue Paul George or Jimmy Butler but the lack of pieces doomed their chances of acquiring more key players. Recently, they re-signed shooter Kyle Korver to a three-year deal worth $22 million. The Cavs also signed veteran point guard Jose Calderon to a one-year $2.3 million contract as a backup for Kyrie Irving.
The Cavaliers acquired Korver from the Atlanta Hawks before the trade deadline. In 35 games with the Cavs, Korver averaged 10.7 points with 48.5 percent shooting from beyond the arc. Calderon, for his part, split time between the Hawks and the Los Angeles Lakers last season.
James Jones will not return to Cavs
Meanwhile, veteran James Jones will not return to the Cavaliers, according to his agent, Joel Bell.
The 36-year-old Jones will be a free agent after 14 years in the NBA but the Cavaliers are not keen on signing him to a new deal. Jones played with LeBron James for the past seven seasons -- four years in Miami and three in Cleveland. Last season, he averaged 2.8 points in 48 games with the Cavaliers but his contribution went beyond the court, as he was a good leader and teammate. A source said James has already accepted Jones’ decision.
