4:47pm: The Suns have confirmed in a press release that Crowder will sit out training camp. Crowder also responded with a brief message on Twitter.
“One must seek work where he is wanted… where he is needed!” Crowder wrote. “I am thankful for what these past two years have taught me. Now, I must take on another challenge with continued hard work and dedication. For those of you who closed the door on me… Thank you! 99 back soon!”
4:00pm: Jae Crowder and the Suns are hoping to find a trade for the veteran forward, per Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link). The 6’6″ forward will sit out Phoenix’s training camp as he and the Suns explore potential deals, Charania adds.
Fresh off a 2020 NBA Finals run as the Heat’s 3-and-D starting power forward, Crowder inked a three-year, $29.2MM deal with the Suns ahead of the 2020/21 season.
With Phoenix, Crowder made his second straight NBA Finals appearance in 2021 as the team’s starting power forward. Last year, he started all of his 67 healthy games with the club, which finished with a league-leading 64-18 record. For the 2021/22 season, Crowder averaged 9.4 PPG on .399/.348/.789 shooting splits, plus 5.3 RPG, 1.9 APG, and 1.4 SPG.
A deal involving Crowder had been rumored in recent weeks. Earlier this weekend, the 32-year-old tweeted an ominous post declaring that he would be absent from training camp before ultimately deleting the message.
Sharpshooting 6’8″ reserve power forward Cameron Johnson, the No. 11 pick out of North Carolina in 2019, emerged last year as a reliable scoring threat for Phoenix off the bench. The team could be looking to shore up its depth elsewhere in a potential Crowder deal, while elevating the 26-year-old Johnson to a starting role that seemed inevitable sooner rather than later.
Would not want him on my team. Bro starts like 80 fights per week
Hyperbole is not your friend.
I’ve had a great friendship with hyperbole over the years. It’s possible but it takes effort.
Jae Crowder is solid and the heartbeat of this team. I definitely want him on my team. He can defend multiple positions and shoot the three. This is a bad move on Phoenix part. I’ll like to see him on the Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, or the Chicago Bulls.
What’s wrong with fighting?
Boston Clam Crowder still the best Jae
Crowder, Johnson and Craig for Julius Randle!!!
Randle was second team all nba a couple seasons ago. He’s one of the best in his position and the price your paying is ridiculously low. I personally think he’s a terrific fit.
Outside of Devin Booker they lack another go to scorer. CP3 was that guy but Father Time has caught up to him and he’s not the same player.
Randle gives them a clear an obvious second option after Booker. He can score in the paint, in the mid range and knock down threes. He can take you off the dribble, back you down, roll to the rim or just simply space the floor. He also offers another playmaker which is handy with CP3 slowing down. What let’s him down sometimes is he tries to do to much. Huge part of that is he plays for the Knick’s and they kinda suck. Think he would be happy on a contending team as a second option and winning games. Under the guidance of Monty Williams and CP3 he wouldn’t need to do all that and would just learn to play his role.
For the knicks, Crowder is a perfect Tom Thibs guy. Scrappy defender, a leader and can space the floor. Cam Johnson is the perfect addition after missing Donovan Mitchell. He’s actually a better fit as he doesn’t demand the ball much, defends really well, and spaces the floor. Moving Randle will please the fans who have wanted him gone for a while now and it also opens up more minutes for Obi Toppin.
Then lastly but Torrey Craig could be perfect as a salary filler but double as someone to replace Cam Reddish in the depth chart because he’s been mentioned in wanting out and Thibs unwilling to use him sometimes.
Huge win win for both sides
I like it, but doubt the Suns would do it. Randle’s contract hamstrings them and any flexibility needed if CP3 steps down.
They did that themselves with Ayton and Bridges extension and will most likely proceed to extend Johnson if they don’t make this deal which ruins all flexibility.
Randle on his contract ain’t a bad price, for his level of skill and talent it’s a very cheap price and he fills a need for them
No thanks ….. rather stick with youth.
Johnson is the youth, Craig is an expiring deal and Crowder if you don’t want to keep him is also an expiring deal. But he’s actually a solid player and I think would make the team better
Johnson isn’t going anywhere. He’s the reason they want to move Crowder. So why would they want Randle. Knicks will sit on Randle. And hope he plays his way out. He needs a small market. He can’t handle NYC.
Depends on when Randle’s contract year is. That’s when he flourishes.
Randle has negative value on his conrtract, Knicks would have attach assets just to dump him, no way in hell Suns trade Johnson for him!
You guys I think rate Johnson to highly.
Watch the suns fade away into mediocrity again. CP3 getting old and retiring, Bridges isn’t a 20+ points per game guy. Johnson will get bullied by most PFs and Ayton has already had a fallout and they maxed him.
Losing Crowder will hurt the defence
He was a good leader for them did a lot of the dirty work.
Like I said suns peaked
Last we heard here, was phoenix was wanting to shed some amount, 10 mil? To stay under where they wanted to be.
It didn’t sound as if they wanted to add more $ this season, but subtract.
Lakers going to get him arent they?
They dont have any trade assets to acquire him
Phoenix could probably use a shake-up. We know Indiana wanted Ayton.
INDIANA receives:
– D.Ayton ($30mm)
– J.Crowder ($10mm)
Total: $40mm
PHOENIX receive:
– M.Turner ($18mm)
– B.Hield ($21mm)
– Pick(s)
Total: $39mm
SUNS:
PG C.Paul
SG D.Booker, B.Hield, L.Shamet
SF M.Bridges
PF C.Johnson
C M.Turner
Ayton can’t be traded anywhere until Jan 15, and cannot be traded to Indiana for a full year because of their offer sheet.
Don’t get why Crowder would be traded. This seems to come out of nowhere. They just resigned him. Why mess up a good core now. First they went after Ayton. Now they go after Crowder. I’d say it was the owner. But he’s a goner. Imo CP3 has one good yr left. Why would you jeopardize this yr. There is a diss-function in Phoenix. Heat should get him back. Probably get him for nothing.
Locker room?
Resigned him? Crowder is on an expiring deal
@knickerbocker
“Crowder idea is out of nowhere ”
????
All below reported here:
7/19
“Crowder is entering his walk year and has been the subject of trade rumors, particularly involving one of his former teams, the Heat. The Suns are above the tax line and might look to shed some salary”
6/23
Suns made calls to get idea of Crowders value.
8/3
Crowder tweets …. unhappy
9/3
Crowder tweets …. unhappy
9/20
Crowder mentioned as trade candidate on expiring deal.
There is another i feel I can’t find. Wanting $10 mil to get out of taxes.
7/20
league personnel still categorize Jae Crowder and Dario Saric as trade candidates entering this season to clear necessary wiggle room on Phoenix’s books,” said Fischer.
Blazers need a forward.
Jae brings to the table defensive toughness and solid outside shooting — both qualities the Blazers need at the forward position.
He would be a solid addition to the Portland Trail Blazers and the Miami Heat as well.
Crowder would be a solid addition and fit anywhere.
So the Sarver stuff happens and Crowder wants to be a knight in shining armor for the league so he requests a trade? Then Sarver sells on his own accord and Jae realizes he can’t back down from his noble cause? Have fun in Charlotte pal
This is an odd call, unless it’s not solely a basketball decision. Shopping him makes sense (as he’s not really a long term asset for them), but holding him out of camp doesn’t. Rental equivalent or not, Crowder is a useful rotation piece at a relatively low salary. Unclear what PHX might want in return. I doubt they’d want to take on salary.