Knicks nab Jeffries

08.7.2006

New York, NY (Basketball News) - The New York Knicks officially gained the services of forward Jared Jeffries on Monday after the Washington Wizards failed to match a five-year offer sheet to the restricted free agent.

The 6-foot-11, 240-pound Jeffries averaged 6.4 points and 4.9 rebounds in 77 games with the Wizards last season.

He has averaged 6.1 points and 4.9 rebounds in four NBA seasons, all with Washington, after originally being selected with the 11th overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft out of Indiana.

The Wizards decided not to match the offer sheet because they inked former Orlando guard DeShawn Stevenson on Saturday.

"There were several factors, among them is that we have a lot of players at the perimeter positions — we added DeShawn, Jarvis (Hayes) is coming back, (Darius) Songaila will take some of those minutes, and we like the development of Andray Blatche," Wizards president of basketball operations Ernie Grunfeld said. "But also, Jared’s representative made it crystal clear that he preferred being in New York. We want players that want to be here and that are excited about the situation, and that’s what all of the players I mentioned are."

NYK WAS

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