Jamal Crawford

Jamal Crawford Opts Out Of Contract

JUNE 27TH, 7:50pm:  Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com caught up with Jamal Crawford who confirmed that he did in fact opt out despite initially being agreeable to a trade.  He said that after consulting with his family, he decided to go the free agent route in hopes of securing a long-term deal:

"I wanted to experience free agency truly for the first time.  The last two years I've essentially played on one-year contracts and I can't do that to my family anymore.  I want a multiyear deal," Crawford said.

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Sixers, Wolves, Celtics Pursuing Jamal Crawford

Although Jamal Crawford was planning to opt out of his contract, he extended his decision deadline for his player option two weeks, until June 29th. This move allows the Trail Blazers to try to find a suitable trade partner for Crawford on or before draft night. If the Blazers find a destination Crawford likes, he could agree to exercise his player option and be dealt. And according to Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com, there's no lack of trade interest in Crawford. The Blazers are fielding offers from a number of teams, with the 76ers, Timberwolves, and Celtics among the most active suitors.

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Odds & Ends: Lakers, Hawks, Rose

Dave McMenamin of ESPN Los Angeles looked at some specific names that could surface on the Lakers' radar if Ramon Sessions is not on the roster next season, mentioning Aaron Brooks, Raymond Felton, and Kirk Hinrich as guards who could be available for the team's mini mid-level exception. You can read more of tonight's miscellaneous links here, including rumblings about Atlanta's offseason activity, a minor update on Derrick Rose, and an in-depth look at Charlotte's new head coach…

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Celtics Rumors: Crawford, Pietrus, Dooling, Daniels

A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com yesterday advanced the notion of Jamal Crawford joining the Celtics. Fellow CSNNE.com scribe Rich Levine endorses the idea, but believes Crawford is seeking a multi-year deal worth more per year than the $5MM he made this past season with the Blazers, and wonders whether the Celtics are willing to spend that much on him. Crawford is expected to decline his $5.225MM Blazers option for next year. There's plenty more on potential Celtics comings and goings this morning, with just a few weeks to go until free agents officially hit the market.

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Odds & Ends: Crawford, Warriors, Seattle, Bulls

The Lakers made history on this day 11 years ago when they beat the Sixers 108-96 to claim the NBA championship with the highest playoff winning percentage of all time at 93.8%, according to Hoopedia. Led by Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles went 15-1 in the playoffs by sweeping the Trail Blazers, Kings and Spurs before losing just once to Philadelphia. Let's take a look around the league to catch up on the latest news and stories making headlines…

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Amico On Bulls, Sloan, Blazers, Crawford

Within the last week, both Sam Smith of Bulls.com and Bradford Doolittle of ESPN.com concocted trade scenarios in which the Bulls acquire Tyreke Evans from the Kings, increasing speculation about such a deal. But Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio hears from multiple sources that there's nothing to the idea, and that it's not something that's being discussed by the two teams. That tidbit comes from Amico's Thursday column, and he's back with another piece today, so let's take a look at the highlights:

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Notable Outstanding Option Decisions

The Lakers officially exercised their option on Andrew Bynum yesterday, locking him up for the final year of his contract. Bynum's isn't the first option decision of the year — Beno Udrih has picked up his 2012/13 player option, while Dwight Howard famously waived his early termination option earlier in the season. Over the next few weeks, we'll hear about even more team, player, and early termination options, as teams prepare for the July free agency period. Listed below are a few key decisions to watch in the coming weeks….

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Blazers’ Crawford, Batum, Przybilla Talk Offseason

With the disapointing 2012 Blazers season in the books, Jamal Crawford, Nicolas Batum and Joel Przybilla all discussed their uncertain offseason outlooks with The Oregonian, who posted the videos online:

  • Crawford owns a player option on his contract (which we already heard he may turn down) that he must opt into by June 15, or he will become an unrestricted free agent.  Crawford called his year in Portland the "longest-shortest season ever" and said that he still plans to weigh his options before making a decision.  Crawford goes on to say, "I don’t think this year was any one person’s fault.  I just think it was a bad situation with the short training camp."  Crawford still considers Portland's future bright and says that "seeing where the team is going" will be key to his choice.
  • Batum is a restricted free agent and would be in high demand should Portland balk at matching offers for him.  All indications are that Portland will try to keep the young forward.  Batum indicated his desire to stay"Of course I want to come back here.  This team drafted me and put me on the court at 19 and gave me my chance in the NBA so we will see what happens."  However, Batum went on to add that the basketball situation for him is more important than the city, implying he would have interest if another team had more to offer basketball-wise than the Blazers.  Batum said he is "99 percent" sure he will be back, but is excited about the summer's prospects of a new contract and his first Olympic appearance.
  • Przybilla signed with the Blazers in late February after considering sitting out the lockout shortened season.  He now seems intent on playing next year, citing his knees feeling great and a newfound love for the game as the primary reasons.  He is an unrestricted free agent and  thinks he will draw some interest over the course of the offseason: "With a good summer of working out and a training camp with a team, I think there will definitely be opportunities out there for me."  He added that he would definitely consider resigning in Portland.

Jamal Crawford To Opt Out Of Contract

Blazers guard Jamal Crawford will opt out of his contract for 2012/13, a source tells Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter).  The option would have paid Crawford $5.23MM next season.

The move allows Crawford to become an unrestricted free agent for the second year in a row.  Crawford has an earlier-than-usual June 15th deadline to make the opt-out official but is expected to exercise it soon.  A little over two weeks ago it was reported that the guard was expected to decline the option.

There are a number of clubs that have been linked to the 32-year-old including the Wolves, Suns, and Warriors.  Crawford nearly landed in Minnesota at the trade deadline as part of a three-team deal before the Wolves backed out.

Blazers Notes: Crawford, Canales, Aldridge

The Blazers finished the 2011/2012 season with a record of 28-38, marking their worst winning percentage in six seasons. The team faces a busy offseason as they look to rebuild their front office, coaching staff and roster. Here's the latest news and notes from the City of Roses.

  • Blazers acting general manager Chad Buchanan says the team isn't worried about Jamal Crawford's pending decision to opt out of his contract given their depth at shooting guard, tweets CSNNW.com's Chris Haynes. Buchanan points to Wesley Matthews and Elliot Williams as options to replace the former Michigan star if he elects to become a free agent. Crawford, 32, averaged 14.0 PPG and 3.2 APG in 60 games with the Blazers.
  • Ben Golliver of Blazer's Edge says Buchanan expects the Blazers to pick up the team's option on interim head coach Kaleb Canales for next season (via Twitter). The team has not yet announced whether Canales would continue in his role as head coach or return to his duties as an assistant. The 33-year-old former video intern went 8-15 in 23 games with the Blazers and was applauded by the front office for always maintaining a positive attitude with his players.
  • LaMarcus Aldridge will undergo hip surgery on May 10 in Vail after last playing for the Blazers on April 9, tweets Golliver. Aldridge was enjoying a strong season before his injury as the former Texas big man was named to the All-Star team for the first time in his career. The 26-year-old forward had hoped to be healthy in time to play in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London but is not expected to make the final roster cut due to his injury.
  • Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor thinks former Blazers head coach Nate McMillan was unfairly fired when the team dismissed him on March 15, reports Haynes. "He had two-and-a-half bad weeks and they fire him. I mean, that to me, I don't understand it. But that's, I guess, I shouldn't be in somebody else's business."