Eastern Notes: Crabbe, Stephenson, Dellavedova

The Nets signing restricted free agent Allen Crabbe to a four-year, $75MM offer sheet may have shocked some around the league, but a number of NBA scouts believe the shooting guard will break out once given more playing time, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. “I really was impressed with Crabbe last year,” one veteran scout told Lewis. “It took me a minute or two. He had that nice fluidness to him, that long body. Allan [Houston] was that same way, and he was a hell of a player. I didn’t think Allen Crabbe would’ve made it this far and been this good. He just always struck me as I wanted a little bit more. … But he plays with more passion than I thought. He’s quiet, not pumping his chest, not gung-ho. But last year was a real good eye-opener for everybody that wanted more out of Crabbe, because they got it.”

“He reminds me a little of Tim Thomas, a lot of ability,” the scout continued. “Some nights you’ll see more than others, depending on who he plays and how hard he plays. And with Crabbe, who he plays with becomes important. … C.J. McCollum and Damian Lillard are scorers first. Now that he’s a featured player, you’ll see more of what he can do.”

Here’s more from the East:

• There have been reports stating that unrestricted free agent Lance Stephenson may be close to reuniting with the Pacers, but team president Larry Bird says those rumors are unfounded, Nate Taylor of The Indianapolis Star relays (Twitter link). “I think Lance and his agent are doing the talking… Right now probably a very slim chance,” Bird said.
• The second round pick the Nets acquired from Indiana as part of the Thaddeus Young swap only conveys to Brooklyn if it falls in the No. 31-No. 44  range from 2017-2022, and is unprotected in 2023 , Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders tweets.
• The Cavaliers shipped the Bucks $200K as part of the sign-and-trade deal involving Matthew Dellavedova, Pincus notes (on Twitter).