Milwaukee Bucks: 5 last minute trade targets before 2022-23 NBA season
By Dalton Sell
Jae Crowder could be a last minute trade target for the Milwaukee Bucks
Whenever a 3-and-D wing is rumored to be available, the Milwaukee Bucks are bound to at least monitor the situation. That is precisely what they should be doing with Jae Crowder after recent rumors surrounding the Phoenix Suns’ forward. According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Crowder is available in trades at this moment. The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported on Sunday that the Suns and Crowder have mutually agreed to find the veteran a new home, so it seems inevitable that he will be on the move soon. In that case, the Bucks make sense as a suitor.
Crowder’s defense would make him a valuable addition to the Bucks. The 6-foot-6 forward can defend multiple positions, and he would give this Milwaukee team another stout defender who has experience at the highest level. As an outside shooter, Crowder has been streaky throughout his career, but he has been solid with the Suns over the past two seasons by hitting a respectable 36.9 percent of his triples on 5.9 attempts per game. Crowder’s defense, shooting, and experience would make him a seamless fit with the Bucks on both sides of the basketball.
Milwaukee’s versatility would also skyrocket with Crowder in the mix, especially when the team goes to its small-ball lineups. Of course, small-ball was a key factor in the Bucks winning the title in 2021, but those lineups only worked because Milwaukee had a reputable power forward who could take on tough defensive assignments and knock down threes in P.J. Tucker. Crowder would be the perfect player to try and fill those shoes, giving the Bucks a power forward who can slide into that role when Giannis Antetokounmpo goes to center. It was apparent last season that the Bucks lacked this ideal small-ball power forward, and Crowder could be the answer this season.
Crowder’s expiring $10.2 million salary for 2022-23 makes him a reasonable trade target for the Bucks financially. It is unclear what the Suns would want for the veteran, but the Bucks should be interested in the 32-year-old as his future in Phoenix seems to be coming to an end.