REPORT: 10-year veteran Jae Crowder to potentially return to former title contenders, Miami Heat
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Miami Hear and Jae Crowder
Jae Crowder has not played a single minute in the 2022-23 NBA season. Since the end of last season Crowder “is looking for a new team and finding a new role for himself. Phoenix Suns and Crowder mutually agreed on his absence right before the media day. Since then the Suns have been looking to find a perfect trade for Crowder. Reportedly Phoenix Suns are engaged in talks with Miami Heat over Jae Crowder’s trade.
There have been speculations about the reason for Crowder’s trade. In the beginning, there were talks about him wanting the trade since losing his starting spot in the team. “I do not want to give the details just yet but it’s definitely not true of the narrative being pushed about me starting or not,” he said according to Chris Haynes. Last season Crowder started all 67 games he played last season. He also started 13 playoff games for the Suns.
The Suns recorded a 64-18 record last season which was also the best in the NBA. Crowder was crucial in the Suns’ success last season. He averaged 9.4 PPG, 5.4 RPG, and 1.4 SPG. Several reports have suggested that Crowder wanted to be traded from the team since he was replaced by Cameron Johnson in the starting line-up.
Miami Heat has come forward as a strong contender to acquire Jae Crowder. Interestingly Crowder previously played for the Heat in the 2019 season, before being traded to the Suns. As Ian Begely reported, “One trade that may happen sooner than Dec. 15? Jae Crowder getting moved in Phoenix Per SNY sources, some with Phoenix see Miami’s Max Strus as an integral part of any return for Crowder. I’d assume that Miami would be reluctant to move Strus in a deal for Crowder.”
7 teams in 10 years, Jae Crowder is still in search of a home
Jae Crowder started his career with Dallas Mavericks in 2012. After 3 seasons with Dallas, he was traded to the Phoenix Suns where he had perhaps the best two seasons of his career. In the 2nd and 3rd seasons with the Celtics he averaged almost 14 points and in 2016 he shot just below 40% from the 3-point line.
Crowder has previously played for the Cavaliers, Heat, Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies before settling with the Phoenix Suns. Apart from 3-point shooting, Crowder also brings a defensive mindset to the team. However, the demand that the Suns are making from Heat might be too much for the Heat.
The Suns have reportedly demanded Max Strus in the deal for Jae Crowder. Strus has developed into a much better asset for the team with such a lower price and perhaps they would be reluctant to trade for him. He averages 14.2 points per game and shoots 35.9% from the 3-point range is also Spolstra’s one important asset.
Also, Strus’ salary does not match Crowder’s, so the heat would have to include more players in the trade. The move is perhaps difficult to pull off but what the Suns do with Croweder’s trade would be interesting to watch since it is also Crowder’s last year of a deal with the Phoenix Suns.
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