2 second unit scorers the Boston Celtics can consider for 8-game regular season

Jamal Crawford

My coeditor Mark Nilon has discussed Jamal Crawford in a C’s uniform before, and while the team’s recent transaction history indicates signing a 40-year-old is not likely, there are plenty of reasons why Crawford should be considered for a bench role.

First, is the uncertainty in the second unit. Scoring is at a premium for the bench, with Marcus Smart and Enes Kanter serving as the surest things. While Smart can get hot with his shooting stroke and Kanter can provide plenty of second chances, neither is a proven commodity in the playoffs quite like Crawford, who has 17 career playoff games scoring 20 or more points.

Secondly, Crawford’s career has one of the greatest role player resumes of anyone in history as Mark put it in his piece:

"The 39-year-old has a career average of 17.9 points per game while shooting 41% from the field and 35% from deep (per 36 minutes). Last season, while playing with the bottom feeder Phoenix Suns, Crawford proved to still be a viable scoring option coming off the bench. In 18.9 minutes per game the, then 38-year-old, put up averages of 7.9 points and 3.6 assists on 40% shooting from the field and 32% shooting from 3. During his time in Phoenix, Crawford managed to add another notch to his belt by becoming the oldest player in league history to score 50+ points in a game. With this, he also became the first player to score 50 points for four different franchises."

He deserves another chance in the league, and while the C’s seem like an unlikely destination, Crawford would be easier to trust with the ball in his hands in the playoffs than Brad Wanamaker or Carsen Edwards.