Report: Nuggets join Bucks in pursuit of free agent Richard Jefferson

The Denver Nuggets are interested in signing free agent swingman Richard Jefferson, according to a report by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Jefferson, 37, was traded to the Hawks in a Cleveland Cavaliers’ salary dump last week and was later waived by Atlanta. Last season, Jefferson averaged 5.7 points last season across 79 games for the Cavs, shot 44.6 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three. The 6-foot-7 wing has logged 140 playoff games during his 16-year-career.

Jefferson appeared in 14 games during Cleveland’s 2016-17 playoff run and averaged 3.9 points in 12.8 minutes per game.

Nuggets’ president Josh Kroenke has a strong personal friendship with Jefferson and appeared on an episode of his Road Trippin‘ podcast last season with former teammate Channing Frye. The two developed a relationship when Jefferson was playing for the New Jersey Nets and Kroenke had just finished school.

“I just my wrist. My team told me I was done for the season. I had just signed a max contract. Josh had just finished school and we decided to go out and drink every single night in New York,” Jefferson said on a March episode.

If the Nuggets want to sign Jefferson, they’d have to waive a guaranteed contract or make a trade. Denver currently has 15 players on their roster.

Jefferson will clear waivers and become an unrestricted free agent at 5 p.m. ET Monday. There are reportedly 3-4 teams interested in Jefferson including Milwaukee and Denver.

Jefferson and Bucks’ coach Jason Kidd spent five seasons together with the Nets from 2001-07.