Cleveland CavalierConsidering Waiving Veteran Forward Richard Jefferson
Richard Jefferson has been a reliable role player for the Cavaliers in the past two seasons, but his time in Cleveland may be coming to an end.
The team currently has 16 players with guaranteed contracts on their roster after they signed Dwyane Wade and they will have to part ways with one of them to get down to the league-mandated 15-player roster limit. According to the Athletic's Jason Lloyd, Jefferson appears to be the odd man out since he's only owed a guaranteed $2.5 million this season.
Lloyd also noted that the Cavaliers will have to pay around $10.5 million in luxury taxes if they release him because they are repeat offenders of the luxury tax line.
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AmicoHoops' Sam Amico also said his sources told him Jefferson is likely on the move.
"The Cavs have recently explored making some smaller-scale trades, including some involving Jefferson, sources told Amico Hoops. But nothing has come close and the Cavs may just have to outright release a player," Amico said.
Kay Felder's name has been mention in trade talks as well, per Amico, but he has drawn little interest in the market and he's unlikely to make the roster since he only has a partially guaranteed contract.
Meanwhile, Joe Vardon of cleveland.com has reported that the Cavaliers have already informed Jefferson's agent that they may have to cut him.
"Multiple sources told cleveland.com that the Cavs held early talks with Jefferson's agent about the roster situation and the possibility that Jefferson doesn't stick, but no decision has been made," Vardon said.
The Cavaliers already have an abundance of wing players on the roster, and Jefferson seems to be the most expendable member of the group.
Vardon said Channing Frye may be on the move as well, but he's earning $7.3 million this season and is likely be too expensive to cut. However, he may be traded.
