Both the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat have interest in bringing Jae Crowder back into the fold, and luckily, the Phoenix Suns appear intent on finding a new home for the 3-and-D specialist this offseason.
Crowder, who scored 9.4 points–converting at a 35% clip from 3-point range–and grabbed 5.3 rebounds per game for the Suns last season, is on an expiring $10 million contract for the 2021-22 season and is being pursued by the Cs with the $17.1 million Evan Fournier TPE.
Boston and Miami are the primary pursuers of the six-foot-six forward for different reasons. Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens has been given the green light by ownership to do whatever it takes to get them over the top. Miami, meanwhile, needs to figure out a way to replace P.J. Tucker in Miami’s rotation given his likely departure in free agency this offseason. Tucker had signed a two-year, $14 million deal with the Heat last summer, but could be ticketed to a $30 million MLE deal with the Philadelphia 76ers to rejoin James Harden this offseason.
With the Suns likely needing to sort out their Deandre Ayton restricted free agent situation, Crowder may be used in a cap-clearing deal to create space for Phoenix to give a max contract extension to their former No. 1 pick. If a Crowder deal is inevitable, do the Cs have the means to outbid the Heat in a trade?
The Boston Celtics shouldn’t outbid the Miami Heat to land Jae Crowder
Jae Crowder’s best statistical seasons came in a Boston Celtics uniform, but that is because of the ample opportunities to start on a team that, from 2014-2017, was overperforming relative to the talent on the roster at the time.
Crowder is less than two years removed from shooting 45% from the 3-point line down in the Lake Buena Vista bubble for the Miami Heat before being inserted into the first five and starting every single game during the team’s run to the 2020 NBA Finals.
Crowder, in a (not the) bubble, is a great trade target, but if Miami wants a player back that scored in double digits for all but five of the Heat’s 21 postseason game to replace P.J. Tucker as one of their featured role players, let them.
Better options could present themselves as teams jostle around for cap space at the opening of free agency for the Cs to pursue instead.