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Richard Jefferson: Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks pursuing veteran forward

By Alex Butler
Former Cleveland Cavaliers forward Richard Jefferson (24) scores on a dunk against the Washington Wizards in the first half on February 6 at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. File photo by Mark Goldman/UPI
Former Cleveland Cavaliers forward Richard Jefferson (24) scores on a dunk against the Washington Wizards in the first half on February 6 at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. File photo by Mark Goldman/UPI | License Photo

Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Veteran forward Richard Jefferson has a few teams interested in him after he clears waivers at 5 p.m. Monday.

League sources say those squads include the Denver Nuggets and Milwaukee Bucks, according to ESPN.

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Jefferson, 37, was traded on Saturday from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Atlanta Hawks. He was waived by the Hawks shortly after that deal. Jefferson becomes an unrestricted free agents after he clears waivers. League sources told ESPN that there are three or four teams "serious" about signing the veteran.

Jefferson averaged 5.7 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game last season.

Kay Felder was also included in the Hawks and Cavaliers exchange. He was also waived.

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"Yeah, in vintage RJ fashion we were shooting the [stuff] and talking and reminiscing," Cavaliers forward Kevin Love told Cleveland.com on Sunday. "As a lot of us mentioned on social media yesterday, we've seen a lot of guys come and go but RJ helped create the culture here. He'll always be a Cavalier. He'll always be a guy that helped us in that 2016 Finals in a big way. We love RJ and we always will."

The Bucks cut guard Gerald Green on Saturday and have a roster spot available. Jefferson's minimum veteran's salary comes in at $2.3 million.

Love also said goodbye to Jefferson Sunday on Instagram.

"The Triangle will never be the same!!! So much can be said about RJ...but the truth is we would never have been able to celebrate our 2016 Championship without the contributions of RJ and what he brought on and off the floor. He always stepped up to make our team better," Love wrote. "Yeah, he can be a [expletive] idiot sometimes but he was instrumental in making our team a family. Will miss going to war with you...and [expletive] on Channing!!! Brotherhood!!!"

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Jefferson said Saturday on his Road Trippin' podcast that he wished Cavaliers general manager Koby Altman had communicated with him more during the trading process.

"The last thing I said to him was 'Look, this conversation started three weeks ago. As a vet, as guy who has done this 17 years as a professional, just come talk to me," Jefferson said, according to Ohio.com. "I know you're talking with my agent because that's the business side. Let me know that something's going on. Give me a call and say, 'Hey, I don't know.'"

Jefferson tied the situation to Dwyane Wade's signing with the Cavaliers.

"I literally knew the day D-Wade came," Jefferson said on the podcast. "All of sudden D-Wade clears waivers, he's available, obviously everyone knows his relationship with 'Bron. All of sudden my agent was like, 'This seems weird.' He contacted them and they said, 'We're trying to do some things, we're doing this.' Basically it's team talking saying, 'We'd like to keep Richard, but if it doesn't work out, then obviously we might have to make some changes.'

"I've known for weeks, so it wasn't a surprise to me. But it was a surprise to a bunch of my teammates. I told J.R. Smith on the bench and he thought I was kidding with him."

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The Cavaliers start the regular season at 8 p.m. Tuesday against the Boston Celtics. Cleveland travels to face the Bucks at 7 p.m. Friday at The BMO Harris Bradley Center.

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