NOVEMBER 28, 3:37pm: Crowder has officially signed, per team press release.
NOVEMBER 21, 1:03pm: The Suns have reached an agreement to sign Jae Crowder to a three-year contract, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic (via Twitter). The deal will be worth just shy of $30MM, tweets Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press. Phoenix will use its full mid-level exception to complete the signing.
Crowder, who finished the season in Miami, reportedly explored a new deal with the Heat, but was seeking a guaranteed multiyear commitment that the Heat weren’t comfortable with, per Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald (Twitter link).
League sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link) that Crowder also drew interest from the Mavericks, Timberwolves, Clippers, and Hornets, but that Phoenix’s offer was ultimately too good to pass up.
Crowder, 30, provides value as a three-and-D player who has the size to guard bigger wings. He also played some of his best basketball at exactly the right time in his contract year.
After being traded from the Grizzlies to the Heat at last season’s deadline, the veteran forward made 44.5% of his threes for Miami in 20 games to finish the season, then started all 21 postseason contests as the Heat came within two wins of a title.
Having secured a commitment from Crowder and having traded for All-Star point guard Chris Paul earlier in the week, the Suns are looking like an intriguing playoff contender in the Western Conference this season. The team finished five games below .500 in 2019/20, but had an impressive 8-0 run in the Walt Disney World bubble, increasing expectations for ’20/21.
Paul and Crowder will join a promising group that includes star guard Devin Booker, former No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton, and young wings Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson, among others. The Suns also still hope to re-sign restricted free agent forward Dario Saric, per John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 (Twitter link).
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Good signing just what they need
Called it! Suns look really good!!
Suns get much better
Cp3
Booker
Cam/bridges
Crowder
Ayton
Gotta give james Jones props
Agreed but they’re still no better than the 5-6th best team in the west
Considering they haven’t made the playoffs in over a decade, I don’t think the fans will care much.
West standings
Lakers
Nuggets
Clippers
Houston
Dallas
Suns
Jazz
Warriors
Blazers just miss playoffs
What happens in Houston is still very much up in the air. I don’t care how competitive Harden and Westbrook are, when they both want out it will not be good for the team.
I actually would replace Clippers with Blazers, simply because Portland is a bit deeper now than Clippers. Outside of Kawhi/Pandemic P and Sweet Lou, they aren’t as deep as they once were.
I’d put Portland right behind Phoenix
Like the other six teams you listed above, Houston & Dallas each have nicknames … the Rockets & Mavericks respectively, unless you just don’t care for Texas teams !!!
5 or 6 seed would be just fine with them I am sure.
Good signing now need some bench players . They will make the playoffs next year for sure unless CP3 gets injured .
Jae got signed for the MLE??? Why did the Blazers sign DJJ?????????????
Good signing by Phoenix. Can’t fault him for taking the 30 mil.. Gonna miss him in Miami.
Suns got a playoff squad unless CP3 goes back to his old habits.
“Walt Disney World Bubble.”
I’ll take 2020 Terms for $200, Alex.
3-year 30M
Right Price
5th seed Jazz
6th seed Blazers
7th seed Mavs
8th seed Rockets or Suns
swap portland and Phoenix
Warriors 9.3M DPE can be used for sign, trade or claim.
I am not a huge Crowder fan but I don’t get why the heat dropped so much money on Leonard when Crowder signed for pretty much the same amount.
because he didn’t… the heat offered Crowder the same deal…. the difference is the Heat contracts are 1+… meaning just a 1 year deal in reality. Crowder took 3 years guaranteed than a what if next year. I don’t blame him but he’ll be missed in Miami
Yes agree good move. Need to resign Saric now. He and Crowder are solid around Ayton. Got a nice contract too. Best players in NBA are 2way players.
Wow they’re gonna be a top 3team
Phoenix is building a gritty team. I like it. I always thought Coach Williams had a raw deal in New Orleans. This team will surprise a few teams. The west is going to be a gauntlet once again.
Great move for Suns. These will be fun to watch next season. 7/8 seed next year.
West Standings
Lakers
Nuggets
Mavericks
Clippers
Rockets
Blazers
Jazz
Suns
not going to lie, Phoenix is much improved…Also, not going to pretend I’m not salty the Heat lost Crowder in such a dumb way, for such a small difference. I get wanting multiyear money, especially coming off an insanely team friendly contract the last 5 years, but the Heat were obviously going to take care of him. Also, 1 year 14 million suggests that even if the Heat wouldnt have given him a strong multiyear deal next year, someone else would have definitely beaten the $30 million total he signed for these next 3 years
Paul and Crowder bring that winning attitude. To young team that ended on a high note last yr. Need to sign Saric. He and Crowder is a good mix imo. Suns ready to step up, good young talent. Be fun watching them this yr. Ayton could have a big yr with Chris there. Definitely a playoff team.
Las Vegas oddshark updated championship odds November 27
3 Warriors
6 Rockets
7 Jazz
8 Suns and Blazers
Saric is still hanging.
Suns keep adding players incl. Jalen Smith… not sure Suns are the best for him anymore but Im also not sure the Bucks have room left.
Can Miami anymore fun the forwards-high 2-3 without Crowder? Maybe with PreciousA. Maybe they won’t want to for the RS.
Crowder is a better acquisition for the Suns than CP3 and should have more of an impact. And unlike Chris Paul he has experience going deep in the playoffs. The only time CP3 got close he got hurt and cost his team an easy path to a championship.
So that’s where the hurt comes from. I’m sure it hurt him more than you. Cause that will be closest he ever got. Suns gonna make noise in playoffs. Must watch TV.
Suns will be fun to watch. Their coach is beloved by players and will be coach of the year candidate.