Jae Crowder wants out of Phoenix and the Suns have been looking for a trade to accommodate that.
It hasn’t come together, so the Suns and Crowder agreed he should sit out training camp while they find one (this team does not need another distraction in camp).
The Suns’ statement on Jae Crowder not attending training camp in a mutual agreement: pic.twitter.com/IaYCFRheth
— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) September 25, 2022
We knew this was coming because Crowder himself announced it a couple of days ago. While he deleted the Tweet, nothing ever completely disappears online.
Jae Crowder tweeted and deleted: pic.twitter.com/bC2VnU0Zht
— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) September 24, 2022
Two quick thoughts on this news.
First, it means Cameron Johnson will start at the four, something that was likely anyway as the Suns look to add shooting to help space the floor.
Second, this news does not help the Suns’ leverage in getting a trade. It’s understandable that Crowder didn’t want to be in camp and that the Suns didn’t want the distraction, but now everyone knows the pressure on the Suns to get a deal done and they will lowball their offer.
There are a few potential landing spots out there. Crowder hinted online he would welcome a return to Miami, and the Heat need help at the four after P.J. Tucker left for Philly. The Heat would base a trade around Duncan Robinson, but to make the salaries match the Suns would have to throw in another player — Dario Saric, Landry Shamet, Cameron Payne, Torey Craig or after Jan. 15 — and that seems unlikely.
Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, Boston (but it’s tough to make the salaries match up), and even a team like Minnesota could work. The challenge is the Suns are a win-now team and will want a player who can help them this season and all those teams are in the same space. Right now there may not be an offer available. As camps open and teams start to understand what they do and don’t have, a deal could come together.
Crowder will be home waiting for that to happen, not with the Suns team.