Cleveland Cavaliers: Richard Jefferson leaning towards retirement

Cleveland Cavaliers small forward Richard Jefferson leaning towards retirement.

The Cleveland Cavaliers may have to find another backup for LeBron James. Appearing on the Road Trippin‘ podcast with James, Channing Frye and Fox Sports Ohio’s Allie Clifton, Richard Jefferson more or less announced that he was leaning retirement.

"“I don’t know what I’m about to do next season. The only way I would come back would be if [the Cavs] figure this [stuff] out. Honestly, at the end of the day, coming back alone was not only worth the experience but also worth ‘Road Trippin’,’ man.”"

While Jefferson leaves the door open for a possible return, there’s a caveat. The Cavs have to figure it out this offseason.

What “it” is could only be guessed at but it likely includes re-signing general manager David Griffin, deciding if they’ll try to secure a Big 4, re-tool their Big 3 or stay pat and putting together their second unit before the season starts (last year, the Cavs spent all season trying to build their bench unit).

Jefferson averaged 5.7 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game while shooting 44.6 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three-point range (37.5 percent in the corner) last season, one of his more productive years in Cleveland statistically. However, in the regular season, his three-point percentage in the 2016-2017 paled in comparison to what it was in 2015-2016 (38.2 percent).

In the 2017 postseason, he made 26.3 percent of his three-point attempts. He made 39.3 percent of his three-point attempts in the 2016 postseason.

With 47.8 percent of Jefferson’s shot attempts coming as catch-and-shoot opportunities from behind the arc, Jefferson’s lack of efficiency was disappointing.

Nonetheless, Jefferson’s experience, as a 16-year veteran, and athleticism (despite being 36-years-old) allowed him to be on the court for 20.4 minutes per game. He’s a player who head coach Tyronn Lue counted on to keep the ball moving, make shots when spotting up (he made 36.0 percent of his catch-and-shoot threes

in the regular season

) and attack the rim in straight-line drives on offense.

Jefferson’s value on the defensive end can’t be understated either. He was also a solid defender on the perimeter who was able to keep up with wings and wasn’t afraid to play physical.

According to 82games.com, Jefferson held opposing shooting guards to a PER of 12.0 and kept opposing small forwards to a PER of 16.3. A PER of 15.0 is considered average for a player.

When looking at what Jefferson brought on-the-court, in addition to his ability to form a bond with James and Frye and his knowledge of the game, Jefferson was an invaluable piece of the Cleveland Cavaliers puzzle over the last two years. He’s a reliable and trusted backup for James and without him, the Cavs will be lacking a player who was tailor-made for the team. If Jefferson decides to retire, and he did so briefly last year, that’s what the Cleveland Cavaliers would have to replace.

One other particularly interesting aspect of this situation:

If the Cleveland Cavaliers anticipate Jefferson’s retirement, his $2.5 million salary could be tacked onto Iman Shumpert or Kevin Love’s salary in the offseason as they try to match salaries for trades without giving up young assets like Cedi Osman, Edy Tavares and Kay Felder.