Report: Cavaliers, Richard Jefferson close to one-year deal

Richard Jefferson and the Cavaliers are nearing an agreement that would bring the veteran wing player to the defending Eastern Conference champions, reports ESPN.

Richard Jefferson and the Cleveland Cavaliers are nearing an agreement that would bring the veteran wing player to the defending Eastern Conference champions, reports ESPN.

Jefferson had previously agreed to re-sign with the Dallas Mavericks but after DeAndre Jordan decided to return to the Clippers rather than join Dallas, Jefferson, decided the contending Cavaliers were a better fit.

ESPN’s Marc Stein reports that unlike with the Jordan episode earlier this month, Jefferson reached out to Mavericks owner Mark Cuban prior to making his decision to open discussions with Cleveland.

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“He called and talked to me,” Cuban told ESPN. “RJ said he had an opportunity with an Eastern Conference team. He said he would honor what he [originally agreed to with the Mavs] but thought the other was a better fit. I told him I was OK with it and understood.”

Jefferson, who averaged 5.8 points in just under 17 minutes per game for Dallas last season, is believed to be signing a one-year, veteran's minimum contract with the Cavaliers.