The Mavericks have exercised their team option on Jae Crowder, according to the RealGM Transaction log. The 6’6″, 23 year-old swingman’s salary for the 2014/15 season will be $915, 243, which is a small increase over this season’s salary of $788,872.
This move gives the Mavs eight players with guaranteed contracts, and increases their guaranteed salary commitments for next season from $28,267,575 to $29,182,818. If the team declined his option Crowder’s qualifying offer and cap hold would have been $1,115,243, unless the team decided to non-tender him.
Crowder has been a regular part of the Mavs’ rotation the last two seasons, and with a salary under $1MM, is a relative bargain. The only negative for the team is they lose some cap flexibility in the event they wish to pursue big ticket free agents.
Crowder, in his second season with the Mavs, averaged 4.6 PPG, 2.5 RPG, and 0.8 APG in 16.1 minutes per night. He appeared in 78 games this season, eight as a starter. His slash line was .439/.331/.754.
Good decision. Guy plays tough and isn’t immature out there.