It’s no secret that Jae Crowder won’t be hitting the streets of Phoenix this season. The 32-year-old pit bull is no longer part of his team’s plans and the Suns GM is busy setting up a trade. New player, home solution… how will Monty Williams replace his 3 and D?
Jae Crowder’s favorite movie? « Le Terminal » by Steven Spielberg. Much like Viktor Navorski, Jae Crowder is spending his day at the airport right now. The only difference is that the Suns player has his passport in order, he is just waiting for a destination to be found for him. Indeed, the idyll between the Suns and Crowder seems well and truly over since the Arizona board announced to the player the intention to start Cam Johnson in his place. More in the odor of holiness, lhe former Heat therefore requested his transfer and did not participate in training camp. A solid position 3 (1m98, 106 kg), with experience (735 NBA games on the clock), who loves to defend and who can turn into an X factor in attack? Normally, James Jones’ phone should panic. However, Jae Crowder has not yet opened his suitcases to discover an eighth franchise. Lately, it would be flight 799 to Atlanta that would be in the papers. The Hawks have pieces that the Suns might be interested in, it remains to be seen the different proposals and the expectations of each franchise.
In exchange for Crowder, Phoenix will seek a defensive profile capable of scoring off the bench. Financially, Crowder’s salary, which is around 10 million potatoes, might match that of De’Andre Hunter, for example, who will receive $9,835,881 this year, but Hunter has the “potential” asterisk which makes this kind of trade quite utopian. Justin Holiday and his 6 million a year can also be a solution if Atlanta puts another player in the balance. Anyway, Phoenix is waiting for a counterpart that will not weaken the roster and this is also one of the reasons for the still pending future of the double nueve. The player who will go the opposite way will surely come to reinforce the second unit of Monty Williams. The Cactus guru has indeed decided to establish Cam Johnson for the coming season. A great mark of recognition for the 6th man of the Suns who turned last season to 12.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.5 assist and above all a very nice 42.2% parking success rate. In addition to playing time, it is therefore the responsibilities that will increase for CamCam. From the top of its 26 banks, it is up to him to show that he is capable of replacing Jae Crowder. Internal solution, external contribution… In any case, it will take a lot of defense, but really a lot, and a scoring profile to replace a Jae Crowder whose situation should settle down in the coming days.
Two seasons, an NBA final, a first place in the Conference and 162 common battles, the story will have been beautiful but all good things must come to an end. Jae Crowder will be flying to a new destination in the next few days. No regrets, LeBron’s friend will have done the job in Arizona.
