Milwaukee Bucks: Interest in Richard Jefferson, exploring trades

According to a report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Dave McMenamin, the Milwaukee Bucks are among the frontrunners to sign Richard Jefferson.

At the end of what was a busy and surprising day surrounding the Milwaukee Bucks’ 15th and final roster spot, the team’s intentions started to become a little bit clearer.

According to a report on Saturday night from Adrian Wojnarowski and Dave McMenamin of ESPN, the Bucks are among the teams queuing up for the services of 37-year-old free agent Richard Jefferson.

"“The Milwaukee Bucks have emerged as serious suitors in the pursuit of forward Richard Jefferson, league sources told ESPN.com.No agreement has been reached, but the Bucks and Jefferson, 37, have mutual interest in a possible deal once he clears waivers Monday, league sources said.”"

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Jefferson had been a key cog of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ successful rotation since 2015, but was traded to the Atlanta Hawks in recent days. Waived by the Hawks, Jefferson now awaits hitting free agency.

As the ESPN report outlines, the Bucks would be unable to claim Jefferson off waivers at present, as doing so would push them just over the luxury cap threshold.

"“Milwaukee is $2.5 million below the luxury tax threshold. Jefferson’s minimum veterans’s salary is $2.3 million — with a $1.5 million salary cap hit. If the Bucks claimed Jefferson off waivers, his salary would put the team $5,000 over the luxury tax.”"

Also mentioned in the ESPN report was the Bucks’ activity in exploring cap space clearing trades of their own. This has been a recurring story surrounding the Bucks throughout the summer, but in some ways it seems a little surprising that the push for a deal is continuing right up until the start of the season.

John Henson‘s name has been a staple of such rumblings in recent months, but in this instance, it was Rashad Vaughn, rather than Matthew Dellavedova or Mirza Teletovic who was mentioned alongside him.

"“Milwaukee has been working to trade several players to clear salary-cap space, including guard Rashad Vaughn and center John Henson, league sources said. The Bucks have been willing to attach a second-round pick in offers for Vaughn, league sources said.”"

As a young player still on a rookie scale contract, it would seem unwise to bundle a pick of any sort with Vaughn. Logic would have suggested a team in rebuilding mode would be prepared to take him as a freebie flyer, but maybe that changed based on the exorbitant price the Cavaliers paid to dump Jefferson and Kay Felder in recent days.

Whether the trade explorations are being made out of fear that Jefferson will be claimed before clearing waivers, or if they’re something that could persist if he clears and signs in Milwaukee remains to be seen.

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Jefferson, who previously spent the 2008-09 season in Milwaukee, is set to clear waivers on Monday and there should be a much clearer picture very soon.