Report: Jefferson changes mind on Mavs, will sign with Cavs

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The Cleveland Cavaliers are close to signing veteran small forward Richard Jefferson, according to ESPN's Marc Stein, despite reports earlier this month that Jefferson agreed to a new deal with the Dallas Mavericks.

Jefferson reportedly agreed to a one-year veteran's minimum deal in Dallas, where he played the past season. Stein reported Tuesday that Mavs owner Mark Cuban was not blindsided by Jefferson's change of heart, unlike the DeAndre Jordan fiasco.

Either way, it's another blow to the Mavs' offseason. It's possible Jefferson changed his mind in the wake of Jordan's two-step, as the team's prospects for next season took a hit. Cuban reportedly told free-agent addition Wesley Matthews he could reconsider signing in Dallas after Jordan's stunt, but Matthews stayed committed to the Mavs.

Jefferson's addition would add yet another $3.6 million to the Cavaliers' luxury tax bill, which is appearing to grow more historically spectacular by the day.

And remember: Tristan Thompson, J.R. Smith, and Matthew Dellavedova remain unsigned, and all reasonable logic dictates at least two out of three will return to Cleveland.

While not the player he used to be, the 35-year-old Jefferson can still bring it off the bench shooting the three, hitting 42.6 percent of his shots beyond the arc last year. The reported addition could put the return of Smith in serious doubt.