The Cleveland Cavaliers are finalizing a deal to send veteran forward Richard Jefferson, Kay Felder to Atlanta. In exchange the Hawks will send back European draft rights to Dimitrios Agravanis and Sergii Gladyr.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are finalizing a deal to send veteran forward Richard Jefferson, Kay Felder to Atlanta. In exchange the Hawks will send back European draft rights to Dimitrios Agravanis and Sergii Gladyr.
Atlanta Hawks and Cavs Make a Trade for Richard Jefferson and Kay Felder
In a move to help the Cavs free up roster spots and unload a guaranteed contract the Cleveland Cavaliers traded Richard Jefferson and Kay Felder to the Atlanta Hawks which will save the Cavaliers $12.8 million in luxury tax penalties. The trade also cuts the Cavaliers' roster down to 15 ahead of the start of the regular season. The Cavaliers will save $12.8 million in luxury tax by unloading the two contracts. Cavs general manager Koby Altman thanked Jefferson for being a part of the 2016 championship team in a conversation Friday evening explaining the trade, according to sources.
Sources say the Atlanta Hawks will waive Richard Jefferson and Kay Felder, making them free agents after clearing waivers. Jefferson was set to earn $2.5 million this season and Felder $1.3 million.
"It's a tough situation, and I haven't gotten everything figured out yet, but you know, these are the hard times of being a coach." "It's definitely tough, and [I'm] just trying to figure it out." - Cavs Head Coach, Tyronn Lue
The Hawks are basically acquiring two second-round picks for next to nothing. The money received from Cleveland should cover most, if not all, of the costs of paying Jefferson and Felder the roughly $3 million in guaranteed money they are owed (Jefferson was set to earn $2.5 million this season and Felder $1.3 million).
The two picks Atlanta receives will be the worse of the Timberwolves and the Lakers pick in 2019 and the Trail Blazers pick in 2020. The pick from Portland is protected from 31-55 so it’s unlikely that one will convey, but the Minnesota/Los Angeles pick should have some value. Moreover, adding more picks to the Hawks can aid in the long run for Atlanta Hawks GM, Travis Schlenk.
The Cavs also mentioned that they had waived center Edy Tavares and signed undrafted rookie guard Isaac Hamilton out of UCLA.
