Boston Celtics: 3 potential high-impact offseason signings with the MLE

Jae Crowder

Speaking of reunions, Jae Crowder was a valuable part of a very different era of Boston Celtics basketball–one that was somehow only one year removed from the team that Baynes played on. Crowder, of course, was a member of the team from 2014-2017 as a valuable 3-and-D component of the Isaiah Thomas years.

Crowder was packaged along with IT out of Boston, but this offseason could see the teams reunite depending on what Miami does with their trade deadline acquisition. Stylistically Crowder is a good fit in the rugged Heat culture, but he has already seen a level of success in Brad Stevens’ offense that he could exceed with new star running mates in Beantown.

Shooting just 28 percent from the 3-point line when he first arrived with the Celtics in 2014, Crowder upped that efficiency to 40 percent on five shot attempts per game in his final season in green and white.

He had yet to match that efficiency with any team until joining the Heat this past season and converting on a scorching 45 percent of his looks from beyond the arc…impressively in six shots per game.

What Miami does this offseason will largely determine where Crowder fits into their plans. With a known desire to preserve 2021 cap space, perhaps Crowder could find a longer-term commitment in the form of a full mid-level exception offer from the Celtics.