Two Eastern Conference Teams Potentially Targeting Jae Crowder

Originally posted on FanNation Inside The Suns
By Donnie Druin | Last updated 6/29/22

The Phoenix Suns have seen quite the amount of trade talk involving center Deandre Ayton heading into free agency, yet another big man in the Valley has seen his name thrown around the rumor mill.

Just a week ago, the Suns were reportedly shopping Jae Crowder ahead of the 2022 NBA Draft.

Now, two teams in the eastern conference have reported interest in Phoenix's power forward:

Jae Crowder Drawing Interest From Miami Heat, Boston Celtics

Miami Heat

Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported the Miami Heat are fully interested in investing into P.J. Tucker, yet Crowder would fit as a fine second option if Tucker departs elsewhere.

"Should the Heat lose out on Tucker, the team, according to an NBA source, is considering either a trade for former Heat power forward Jae Crowder, who is entering the final year of a contract that pays $10.2 million next season with the Phoenix Suns, or a possible free-agent move for Indiana Pacers forward T.J. Warren," said Winderman.

"Those, however, only would be fallback positions if current Heat teammates are unable to convince Tucker to stay. Tucker signed with the Heat last August on a contract that paid $7 million this past season. He is opting out of the second year of that contract, which would have paid $7.4 million next season."

Boston Celtics

Heavy.com's Sean Deveney spoke with a high-placed source in the league that believes Crowder is a realistic target for the Boston Celtics.

"As one Eastern Conference executive told Heavy.com, Crowder is 'gettable' because the Suns are looking to shed salary and the feeling is he is in the beginning of his career decline. He will turn 32 next week," said Deveney.

“'He is a guy who, to me, makes the most sense for them because he has that toughness they want,' the executive said. 'He has been in the Finals, he has played deep in the playoffs for a lot of years and they could use another big guy to stretch the floor. And Ime loves a tough guy, that is the kind of player he was.

"The Suns are looking to dump some money and he is in the last year of his deal. It is not a huge commitment for them if he does not work out. But he did not shoot it well last year and he is a step slower so you’ve got to be aware of that. But, you know, they’ve got to find a veteran who has just that little bit more left to give, who fits what Ime wants.'”

Crowder enters the last year of his deal with the Suns, and with Cameron Johnson expected to see a contract extension (although it wouldn't kick in until 2023), now may be the time for Phoenix to move Crowder and insert Johnson into a full time role in the starting lineup.

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