Milwaukee Bucks: 3 veteran forwards to target in free agency this offseason

Milwaukee Bucks: 3 veteran forwards to target in free agency – Jae Crowder

There are two versions of Jae Crowder that teams will analyze when he hits free agency this offseason: what he looked like as a member of the Memphis Grizzlies and the level he played at upon getting traded to the Miami Heat.

Crowder started the 2019-20 season off with the Grizzlies and averaged 9.9 points per game while shooting 36.8 percent field goal shooting and a vile 29.3 percent from 3-point range. The forward got shipped to the Heat midseason as a complementary piece in the trade centered around Andre Iguodala and Justice Winslow, where Crowder arguably eventually proved to be the biggest asset in the entire deal.

Once he got to South Beach, Crowder appeared rejuvenated, upped his scoring to 11.9 points on 48.2 percent shooting from the field and a much-improved 44.5 percent from deep in 20 regular season contests. The Bucks, of course, got a close look at Crowder in the Eastern Conference Semifinals this year, where he lit them up from behind the arc and locked down on defense.

That ‘3-and-D’ prowess Crowder has showcased throughout his career and most signifcantly with the Heat on their run to the NBA Finals will certainly make him a hot commodity on the free agent market, and the Bucks should inquire. Defense and 3-point shooting are two aspects of the game that Milwaukee thrives off of and Crowder checks both boxes at the forward position.

For a team with some uncertainty revolving around the forward position, a savvy veteran of Jae Crowder’s stature would be a welcoming addition on the wing.