Somebody the Boston Celtics have had on their radar this season and on their roster in years past, Jae Crowder, has had a trade offer sent to his current employer, the Phoenix Suns, by a Cs east rival, the Milwaukee Bucks.
Milwaukee’s offer was reportedly Jordan Nwora, Serge Ibaka, George Hill, and a future second-round draft pick according to Shams Charania during an appearance on FanDuel’s Run It Back podcast.
The Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks are also in the mix, but is it possible for the Boston Celtics to find themselves competing with the Bucks on the trade market for a wing during the Isaiah Thomas era who was included in the Kyrie Irving trade?
What the Boston Celtics can offer for Jae Crowder
First off, hats off to Phoenix Suns GM James Jones for being able to generate the potential return for a benched Crowder that was offered by Milwaukee. Nwora is a shooter who could help the spacing in Phoenix and any draft capital is a win considering the alternative for Crowder is a buy-out or a sit-out until free agency.
If the Celtics front office wanted to mix it up with the Suns’, the trade talks would likely have to include Payton Pritchard. Pritchard’s recent comments have cast doubt on his future in Boston, so perhaps the team would be more willing to part with him if they don’t have more playing time planned for the third-year guard.
Pritchard’s contract alone doesn’t make it a salary match, so throw in Danilo Gallinari’s. While Gallinari may not appreciate being traded before ever setting foot on the floor, his potential unavailability could hinder the C’s pursuit of Banner 18 in 2023. Team co-owner Wyc Grousbeck has blessed win-now moves, so that could signal a Gallinari trade. Sending him to a Suns team a few moves away from once again being a contender would certainly be doing him right.
Sprinkle in some draft capital, like a future second-rounder, and Boston could likely have a Crowder reunion if they wanted it.