The Suns have made calls to rival teams in an effort to gauge Jae Crowder‘s value on the trade market, according to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report.
Crowder, who will turn 32 in July, will earn $10.18MM in 2022/23 before becoming eligible for unrestricted free agency next summer. The veteran forward has played his usual three-and-D role in Phoenix for the last two seasons, averaging 9.7 PPG and 5.0 RPG with a .369 3PT% in 127 games (27.8 MPG) during that time. He would likely have positive value as a trade chip, though he wouldn’t command a massive return.
Fischer also reports that Suns officials have been conveying to teams and “other external league personnel” that they’re open to matching a maximum-salary offer sheet for Deandre Ayton, despite persistent rumors that they’d prefer not to pay him the max (including a report from Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN on Wednesday).
Rival suitors interested in Ayton will have to determine whether they believe the Suns would match a max offer sheet — if they do, negotiating a sign-and-trade deal would be the most logical path to getting the former No. 1 overall pick out of Phoenix.
Here’s more on the Suns:
- Phoenix is believed to be in the market for a second-round pick in today’s draft, according to Fischer.
- John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 throws cold water on some recent rumors related to the Suns, reporting (via Twitter) that Phoenix has no interest in trading Cameron Johnson in a deal for the No. 8 overall pick and adding (via Twitter) that he also doesn’t expect the team to have serious interest in free agent forward Nicolas Batum or Knicks wing Cam Reddish.
- In a fascinating Insider-only article for ESPN.com, Kevin Arnovitz takes a look at how differently the Suns approach scouting and the draft compared to other NBA teams. According to Arnovitz, Phoenix hasn’t even completed a draft board ranking prospects for the past three years. “Our draft board would be a mockery to other teams,” senior analyst of personnel and team evaluation Zach Amundson told ESPN. “By the time we were done, we had only five to seven guys on our draft board.”
- As Arnovitz outlines, the Suns’ unorthodox evaluation strategy played a part in their decision to draft Johnson 11th overall in 2019 after trading down from No. 6. At the time, the pick was widely panned and considered a reach. “We were prepared to take him sixth if we had to,” VP of basketball strategy and evaluation Ryan Resch told ESPN.
Just give him the max than.
There’s not a contending team that does not value Crowder at $10M. He’s worth it. Yet, cap space is so tight around the league, draft capital has elevated in value. I’d be surprised if Phoenix would get more than a 2nd round pick in return, which is unfortunate, because Crowder will have far more impact than the player who gets selected in that slot. This all seems to be a result of Detroit making a move to be able to offer Ayton the max. Phoenix is now scrambling to find the money.
Confuses me as to why they would have to scramble to find $ for Ayton. They shoulda known he’s a max player before anyone. He should be their #2 priority (at worst). Feels like such a no-brainer to just match whatever anyone offers
At the end of the day, it is as simple as matching Detroit’s max offer, if the Pistons choose to do so, since Ayton is a restricted free agent. The complications, I believe, are because Phoenix’s roster is getting increasingly expensive and they want to avoid going deep into the luxury tax. So if they can get Ayton as a lesser rate, that has always been their preference. If Sarver has set an internal number to Jones (“this is the # we are not going above for luxury tax spending”), then it makes sense why they are now looking to shed some peripheral contracts.
Ayton has issues. He can’t produce something from nothing, he can’t protect the rim and he is not aggressive on defense. He stated after the finals loss last year in which Giannis pummled him, he said he was going to bulk up. He didn’t do as he said. With that being said, he is not worth the max at this point. However, there is nothing better than Ayton that the Suns could acquire to make them better. It’s a tough spot to be in. It’s not as easy as “just pay him”
Ayton can be a dominant center, but there’s a few games where he just disappears. I would pay the max to an Ayton that is dominant all the time
Crowder is overrated. Can’t shoot when guarded but loves to shoot. He’s best coming off the bench, so why pay $10 million?
Agreed, try to get something for Crowder, Payne, Craig
Are you saying no bench players in the NBA are worth $10 million? There are plenty.
Cam Johnson is a versatile forward who can shoot & is unselfish but tbh Phoenix woulda been better off in that draft if they just did what they usually do, draft a UK kid. I had Keldon Johnson as the best of the UK prospects in that draft. But PJ Washington or Tyler Herro would been just as good… More than anything it’s just hard to believe that Phoenix would be eager to break this team up so fast. This is arguably the best teams they ever had in franchise history these past couple seasons. I gotta guess Sarver is looking to sell the team in the same fashion as the chick that owned the Indians in Major League (which would def make CPaul = Jake Taylor)… that being said I’d definitely trade Cam Johnson for that #8 pick, especially if saving $ is such a factor
Best team In franchise history? Might need to go a little further back.
The Suns team that went up against the Bulls was pretty stacked. Barkley, KJ, Majerle, Ainge, Chambers, etc.
Big facts they were. This team is also stacked & matched that team’s 2 Finals Ws last season before losing to the champs. Phoenix has obviously had other great teams. None of them accomplished more than these Suns. The 93 Suns had 1 HOFer. This team has 3 potential future HOFers. They’re definitely arguably as great as any team this franchise ever had & their 3 best players are just entering their prime
Steve Nash/Stoudemire teams were fun. Rex Chapman Leandro Barbosa
Walter Davis/Dennis Johnson/Alvan Adams was a beast big3 too in the early 80s
Be specific. Also I said “arguably the best”. Get it right my guy
If you’re typing “arguably”, don’t be surprised at arguments.
You also said they’re breaking up their team, and that they should draft who you think rather than the standars they use— which is reported in this article. You list other players not as good as CamJ.
Suns play like a team whose FO knows what they want, and is not constantly trying to correct or balance themselves. They are happy they took CamJ for fit, for his correct positioning, and the talent is at least equal.
Keldon Johnson though, needs directed, which Popovich is more than willing to provide, and KJ is said to willingly take.
FIT with the program, Sank, not their placement in Sank-dreams. Nobody cares about Sankara.
Wth are u talking about lol, who’s surprised? Tbh the only “argument” I saw was some alt that apparently didn’t see that I said arguably & disagreed that this was the best without saying who is better lol… Idk if Phoenix is breaking up their team, I highly doubt they are tbh. Seems weird that it’s even an option that reporters are discussing tho. I take those UK guys over Cam all day. Only 1 close is PJ
Dallas has a 10.8 TPE they could use on crowder as they look for another definsive wing guy. But using the TPE,that balloons their lux tax bill by like 30m or something like that
Local Dallas media is reporting that Cuban is tightening the purse strings and reluctant to dip deep into the well for anyone other than Brunson. If Dallas can get a 3&D SF/PF combo with the $6MM MLE (I think Taurean Prince is a perfect fit), they should do it. They are essentially replacing Josh Green’s role with any sign or acquisition. (Don’t forget Tim Hardaway Jr. will also be back in the rotation.) So it’s getting a little crowded at the wing spots in the rotation .. or Crowdered. (DFS, Bullock, THJ, Bertans, Green)
Its essentially what I’ve been saying they did for years. Very old school approach. Fill the need with what you want, and not worry about value, and figure it out later
What is it is what. How about a subject.
If Hornets can trade Hayward, they will want Ayton at max too, and Ayton would take that… But Detroit would be his pick if they offer first… And staying in Phoenix more likely still, if they match, since he is RFA.
And all that would be done bc of formerlyz’s theory? Guessing at it.
That won’t happen, they would almost have to give him away, 32yrs old and too many injuries and To acquire Ayton they would need to give up a good player plus one or both draft picks….not gonna happen chief
Better fit for Aton would be either Indiana, Pelicans, Knicks or Portland. Phoenix could possibly trade for higher up in the draft, more than likely this will include trading the likes of Payne, Crowder, Craig, Shamet or a combination thereof. They will need to fill the gap if one, two or three of those names disappear. I think Phoenix should do a trade with those names and sign Aton to max and tell him get his act together and be the center they’re paying him to be