Wojnarowski: Former Blazers F/C Jared Jeffries To Join Nuggets Front Office

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports that former Portland Trail Blazers forward/center Jared Jeffries will retire from the NBA to join the Denver Nuggets' front office.

Jared Jeffries, an 11-year NBA veteran, is transitioning out of his playing career and has accepted a front-office job with the Denver Nuggets, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

He will begin his post-playing career centered on a scouting role, sources said.

Jeffries, 31, has a strong history with new Nuggets general manager Tim Connelly, who worked in the Washington front office when Jeffries played with the Wizards from 2002-06.

Jeffries, 31, was acquired by the Blazers from the Knicks in a 2012 sign-and-trade involving Raymond Felton. He averaged 1.2 points and 1.6 rebounds in 9.2 minutes over 38 appearances last season. Jeffries had been dealing with knee issues in recent years and underwent the famed Orthokine treatment last summer.

Jeffries' biggest splash of last season was on Media Day, when he went into detail about his love of hunting. His passion for shoe-collecting and stand-up comedy were also highlighted during his one year in Portland.

The Blazers released Jeffries in April. Blazers GM Neil Olshey discussed the move at the time.

Jared was well aware we were always going to have to waive him. He was a part of a sign-and-trade where we had to do a minimum of three years. His second year would have been guaranteed within five days after the end of the regular season. We felt it appropriate it while he was here. It was a player we were going to have to renounce anyway to create the maximum cap room.

Like we told Jared, we'll look into it again at the end of the summer. If we have a need and he doesn't have a job, it's something we can discuss. Right now, where this organization is going, we need every ounce of cap room we can get to create the best roster possible.

A 2002 lottery pick, Jeffries holds career averages of 4.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists over 11 years with the Wasington Wizards, New York Knicks, Houston Rockets and Blazers.

-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter