If you went down the list of restricted free agents coveted by other teams, Portland guard Allen Crabbe was near the top of the list. The 6'6" guard thrived as the first guard off the bench for the Blazers last season, shot 39.3 percent from three, and shows great promise as a “3&D” guy (who needs to improve defensively). Plus he’s just 24.
Some team was going to make a run at him — and that team turned out to be the Brooklyn Nets, reported Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical at Yahoo Sports.
Sources: Portland RFA Allen Crabbe has signed a four-year, $75M offer sheet with the Brooklyn Nets. Bonuses could reach $83M.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 8, 2016
Portland has three days to match the sheet on Crabbe, which includes player option for fourth year and trade kicker, sources said.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 8, 2016
The Trail Blazers want to keep Crabbe, but that price tag is going to make them hesitate, reports Jason Quick of CSNNW.com.
Brooklyn has promised Allen Crabbe he will be a starter. Crabbe wants that role. Does not want to be in Portland if he comes off bench.
— Jason Quick (@jwquick) July 8, 2016
Crabbe is good, but he’s not starting in front of Damian Lillard or C.J. McCollum. While the Trail Blazers could play Crabbe at the three, the team just paid Evan Turner $70 million to take over starting in that spot.
Blazers will have 3 days to match Brooklyn offer. This is a HUGE number for Crabbe. Considering his desires, have to ? logic of POR match
— Jason Quick (@jwquick) July 8, 2016
New Nets GM Sean Marks has made a couple of really smart stabs into the restricted free agent market this July. First, he offered Tyler Johnson of the Heat $50 million on a “Gilbert Arenas contract” deal, but with Dwyane Wade gone the Heat seem more likely to match that offer. Now there is the Crabbe offer.
Whether he’s coming off the bench in Portland or starting, Crabbe is going to be a very wealthy man. Now he just has to live up to that contract.