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Jae Crowder has requested a trade out of the Phoenix Suns organization in September.
This could be for an abundance of reasons. However, what could the Suns realistically get for the 32year old journeyman forward?
The 2022 NBA offseason was full of storylines with the usual carousel of moving players, including the Jazz blowing their core of Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell up and going into full rebuild mode. However, one player who requested a trade and has yet to be granted that wish was none other than Jae Crowder.
Crowder has had a productive tenure in Phoenix since joining the team prior to the 2020-21 NBA season. Averaging 9.7 points, five rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 2.2 three-pointers made per game on 36.9 percent from behind the arc. It is evident that Crowder is a contributor to the Suns recent success (a finals appearance in 2021 and first place in the 2022 Western Conference), what is also apparent is that he will likely not be a key contributor moving forward, as all reports indicate that it is mutually beneficial for both Crowder and the Suns organization to go there separate ways and ride off into the sunset.
Crowder wants to move on, and the Suns are not broken up about it, so what’s next? With 27-year-old Cam Johnson declining the Suns’ contract extension, the power forward position will undoubtedly be a talking point this year, as Johnson is going to replace Crowder in the starting lineup. The Suns are likely going to be searching for depth at the forward positions off the bench as fan favorite Dario Saric is coming back from a knee injury this season, and there is no telling what kind of condition he will be in, or God forbid there are any setbacks in his recovery process. In short, the Suns may have a PF problem moving forward, and Crowder is a moveable asset that could remedy those shortcomings.
Now, I know what you are thinking “who could we possibly get back for Crowder?” Don’t worry about that. Luckily for you, I went ahead and did that for you. I proudly present the easiest way to tick off fan bases and get people riled up, everyone’s favorite sports bar conversation starter …MOCK TRADES!
First, we have the New York Knicks. Come on down! I propose a trade that will give our ”Valley Boys” some much-needed depth. I suggest Crowder for Cam Reddish, a 4th season player out of Duke. At 23 years old, Reddish has already been traded from Atlanta to the Knicks and has not panned out as well as expected since coming into the league, averaging a reasonably pedestrian 32.5% from three and 10.5 points, respectively 3.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists. However, he has had a few good stretches from behind the line averaging 35.9% for all of last year (despite shooting 25.8 with NY), the point I’m trying to make is there is potential, and for only $5,954,454 for this year and then he is a free agent, it is worth it, and overall he averages about 40% from the field. Statistically he has only had one awful year, as a bench guy that’s worth the gamble. I know everyone thinks that’s robbery for the Knicks. Well, my friend, I have news for you. This is half the haul, I want Toppin if I’m the Phoenix front office. I’ll take the risky Reddish; you take Crowder and you give me Toppin as the centerpiece. Toppin is a legitimately talented young player. Toppin is 24 years old but has built a reputation as a scrappy old-school slashing power dunker and tenacious rebounder. Toppin is not a starter, and no one expects him to be an MVP candidate at some point in his career, but he’s a PF/C capable on defense and has shown flashes of being really good. Making less than 6 million for two years, Obi could be a solid value pick for the Suns. Let players like Saric, Shamet, or Payne hit threes and let Obi do what he does best, get rebounds and put them in the hoop. Toppin averaged 3.7 rebounds per game last year. Still, when sharing time with Mitchell Robinson and Julius Randle (as well as the other 10,000 big men the Knicks always seem to have), Toppin was not ever allowed just to be a slashing, power-dunking glass cleaner that does not make you cringe when he gets behind the three-point line. I believe this is a solid trade piece that works well for both teams. ESPN’s trade machine has this as a +27 wins trade for the Suns and +26 for New York, mainly because he’d make a solid argument for starting New York with Fournier commanding the bench. New York could roll out Brunson, Barrett, Crowder, Randle, and Robinson. Combined Toppin and Reddish had 4.9 Win Shares last year while Crowder had 4.3, WS is not a be-all and All-Star, but it is at least a decent indicator that this is not an awful trade. Reddish is the risk. Toppin is a solid bench player, and the Crowder headache is remedied.
Heading to another borough in New York, we have our next trade. Get ready to journey into the abstract as I make a case for Royce O’Neale to the Suns. Royce O’Neale is an advanced analytics darling, especially on the defensive end. O’Neale could provide much-needed defensive depth off the bench and is also competent on the offensive end. O’Neale has .6 more defensive win shares than Crowder since entering the league and 2.6 more total win shares than Crowder. Crowder is 32, has an expiring contract, and O’Neale is 29 but has two seasons left on his year with a sub-$10,000,000 salary. This may not be a massive difference, but every dollar will count when trying to keep Cam Johnson on this squad. Realistically, Crowder is going to decline sooner rather than later, and despite me not having sources, I think a big part of the reason Crowder wants out is that the organization knows this and wants to give Johnson those minutes. Nobody will argue that O’Neale is better than Johnson, but that does not mean it is not without value. There is always a place for an extra defenseman who averages 44.8% from the field and 38% from the three-point line. I think this deal would have to be a straight-up deal. Maybe Phoenix would have to throw in a second or cash considerations, but I doubt it would be too extreme after Crowder. Crowder’s overall alpha dog mentality fits the relatively docile nature of the Nets. Someone needs to bring intensity; Crowder can still play at a starter level and could be a good foil for the current Nets starter, Joe Harris. Both of these players fit what the other team needs on ESPN’s trade machine (yes, I know some algorithm is not exactly the Oracle of Delphi, but it is a decent basis) has the Suns getting + 27 wins with the Nets getting + 26. Given the age and the better stats, the Suns may need to throw something else in, but it is certainly worth a shot.
Lastly, I want to zag a little and discuss a trade I do not want to see, Crowder and Shamet for Duncan Robinson. It seems like every Suns forum I traverse has some form of Crowder and X for Robinson, and I cannot help but ask… why? Robinson was unplayable in a do-or-die game seven despite being the fourth highest-paid player on the Miami Heat and a playoff hero in their 2020 Finals run. The Suns are trying to make a finals run and, God willing, win the damn thing. Regardless of how much of a headache Crowder is, I’m not trading him for someone who is unplayable in a crucial finals series because of his defensive ineptitude. I get Robinson is one of the better sharpshooters in the league, but when your team desperately needs points, benching that sharpshooter is telling. The Heat organization is not foolish; head coach Erik Spoelstra is not a fool. I understand advanced offensive analytics favor Robinson, but I’d have to pass for the money alone. I’m weary about some of this Suns defense to begin with. Duncan is a good player but not worth it for the Phoenix Suns. Regardless of where Crowder goes, he will always be remembered by Suns fans for his contributions to that 2021 finals team. Was he the best? Of course not. Was he annoying sometimes? Absolutely. Would we have gotten that far without him and with just a regular replacement-level player? I do not know, probably not. I know this is the kind of trade that has to be successful, and the lack of Phoenix’s depth was on full display against New Orleans and Dallas last postseason.
