New York, NY -- (Sports Network) - The Milwaukee Bucks are reportedly in negotiations with the New Jersey Nets to ship forwards Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons in exchange for forward Richard Jefferson.

The Sporting News reported the deal on Thursday afternoon.

Jefferson is coming off a career-high 22.6 point-per-game season. The Arizona product also averaged 4.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists, playing a full 82-game slate for just the second time in his career. He has battled knee injuries throughout his seven-year career, but clearly regained his quick first step in the Nets' disappointing campaign last season.

The 28-year-old has three years and $42 million left on his contract, and the Nets would be cutting a huge chunk out of their salary cap with the acquisitions of Simmons, whose deal expires in 2009, and Yi, whose three-year rookie contract expires in two seasons.

Simmons signed a big contract with Milwaukee after a 16.4-point, 6.0-rebound season with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2004-05, but has been bitten by the injury bug since his arrival in Milwaukee, including missing the entire 2006-07 season with a heel injury. Simmons averaged 7.6 points and 3.2 rebounds a season ago.

Yi logged 8.6 points and 5.2 rebounds in reluctantly playing his rookie season in Milwaukee. The He Shan, China native desired a bigger market to showcase his talents before the Bucks made him the 6th pick in last year's NBA Draft, and the 6-foot-11 forward will have his wish if the deal goes through.