Veteran forward Richard Jefferson saw his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers come to an end over the weekend after he was traded to the Atlanta Hawks. Shortly thereafter, he was waived by the Hawks making him a free agent on the open market just days before the start of the 2017-18 season.
It didn't take long for him to find a new home in the NBA as he inked a one-year, $2.3 million deal with the Denver Nuggets, which was a choice he made because he was highly encouraged by the sense of direction from the franchise, according to Chris Mannix of The Vertical.
“I picked Denver because I believe in what they are doing and building and believe I can add and contribute on and off the court to their nucleus in a positive way,” Jefferson said.
In the last couple of seasons, the Nuggets have constructed a promising roster that features the likes of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Gary Harris, who just signed a four-year, $84 million deal last week. Denver has put together a team that is trending in the right direction with players that should show improvement this upcoming season.
Although Jefferson is at the tail end of his career, his presence on the floor and in the locker room could be key in helping see these younger players continue their development. He still has plenty to offer as he averaged 5.7 points and 2.6 rebounds in 20.4 minutes per game in a reserve role last season with the Cavaliers.
This could quickly turn out to be the ideal landing spot for Jefferson as he looks to open another intriguing chapter late in his NBA career.
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