Rival GM: I’d Be Real Hesitant to Trade For Suns’ Jae Crowder

Suns forward Jae Crowder is sitting out as he and the Suns agreed to try to trade him. He has already been linked to multiple teams, including the Mavericks, Celtics, Grizzlies, Heat and Cavaliers (as relayed here).

But one rival GM told Hoops Wire that trading for Crowder could be viewed as risky business.

“He’s a nice player, a veteran who has won, someone who can help you in that (3-and-D) aspect,” the GM told Hoops Wire.

But?

“But I’d be real hesitant to get a guy who wants traded simply because he was told he’d have to earn his starting spot,” the GM continued. “That’s not a team player.”

Crowder was a key member of a Heat team that reached the Finals at the 2020 Disney bubble. He then played for a Suns team that reached the Finals the next season.

He was also a starter for the Suns last season, when they finished with the league’s best record. Per reports, Suns coach Monty Williams is hoping Crowder has a Kevin Durant-like change of heart — and that Crowder will decide to return to the Suns.

“Jae brought a number of intangibles to the team, I think all of our guys would speak in that way about him,” Williams told reporters. “At the same time, these things happen and you have to transition and move forward. I totally am behind (GM) James Jones and how we are handling this.”

Crowder’s trade request does indeed seem to stem from the fact he may may have lost his starting job to the sharpshooting Cameron Johnson.

“One must seek work where he is wanted… where he is needed!” Crowder tweeted. “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!”

Crowder, 32, appeared in and started 67 games last season, averaging 9.4 points on 40 percent shooting, to go with 5.3 rebounds and some strong perimeter defense.

He is sort of viewed as the ultimate glue guy. But he doesn’t want to be that type of guy off the bench, it seems. 

So we will just have to wait and see if another team will trade for him, clearly, with the idea of Crowder starting in mind.