JUNE 18: Crawford has declined his 2018/19 option, league sources tell Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link).
MAY 2: Veteran shooting guard Jamal Crawford will turn down a player option that would have paid him $4,544,400 for the 2018/19 season, reports Chris Haynes of ESPN.com. Crawford, who signed with the Timberwolves last summer, will hit the free agent market rather than opting into the second year of his contract with the club.
Crawford, 38, joined the Wolves after being traded from the Clippers to the Hawks and then reaching a buyout agreement with Atlanta. In his first – and potentially only – season in Minnesota, the 18-year vet averaged 10.3 PPG and 2.3 APG with a shooting line of .415/.331/.903.
Haynes’ report doesn’t give any hints about what Crawford’s next move will be, but it’s safe to say he’ll be looking for a role on a contending team. Declining his player option doesn’t necessarily mean that Crawford won’t return to the Timberwolves, since the two sides could, in theory, work out a new deal. In fact, Haynes says in a follow-up tweet that Jimmy Butler has told management he’d like to have Crawford back next season.
Still, Minnesota already has more than $110MM in guaranteed salary on its books for 2018/19, and wants to add wings who can shoot threes and defend multiple positions. While Crawford fits that bill to some extent, the Wolves will likely be seeking more traditional three-and-D players, so it’s not clear whether he’ll be part of their plans.
Several veterans have already exercised – or will exercise – their player options for 2018/19, since there’s a belief that league-wide spending in free agency will be down this summer. However, Crawford’s option salary of $4.5MM+ was fairly modest, and he has already earned over $100MM in his NBA career, as our Austin Kent noted on Tuesday. As such, turning down that option isn’t a major gamble. Even if he gives up a couple million dollars and settles for a minimum-salary deal this offseason, Crawford would likely be willing to trade that money for a legit shot at a title.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Not surprised one bit
He didn’t seem happy there. Not enough shots to get around (to him) for his liking.
Sign and trade Wiggins for PG-13 would be what I was doing if I was Presti
I could get behind that
Zero chance the thunder want another player that’s me first and over dribbles
Then it’s a good thing for Thunder fans that you aren’t Presti
come back to the knicks
Wants a title? Go to Golden State. Take Nick Young’s role.
Bingo. First thought that came to my mind
GSW’s claimed objective is to get younger. Young ruined it for vets
Why is Butler giving out suggestions about who he wants back and he’s a free agent next summer? You better lock in with Minnesota if you want say on who stays or goes.
I like Crawford. If the Sixers whiff on FAs this year, I think he’d be a 1-year target for them. I think they’ll look to pawn off Bayless using a couple 2nds and open up ~30M after draft picks. They could divided that up between a litter of role players that can bang 3’s:
Redick 41%, Ilyasova 36%, Bellineli 37% , Afflalo 38%
And guys that can flat out score a bucket:
Crawford, Gay, Hood
He’s going to get a ring in GS.
He’s waiting to see if LBJ, Leonard, and PG -13 go to the Lakers. He’s always said he loves it in LA, and I don’t see him going back to the clippers.
He’d have to sign a veterans min contract to join that squad.
Not a great sign for Minny when FA run away as fast as they can, bad endorsement for Thibs, you would expect FA to run in with the season they did & the potential they have…
He’ll have played with 25% of the NBA with his next team. Good job Jamal.