Are the Milwaukee Bucks a realistic trade destination for Jae Crowder?

Reports came flying out this weekend after Jae Crowder tweeted (and then deleted) that he would not be attending Phoenix Suns training camp and the rumor mill has begun to churn with the Milwaukee Bucks being listed as a team that should be interested in the veteran forward. Shams Charania has since reported that the Suns will work to find a trade partner for Jae Crowder with a few teams reportedly having shown interest. Rumors are already being floated suggesting the Milwaukee Bucks should call their 2021 NBA Finals opponent and see if they could snag Crowder from Phoenix.

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The connection was made by Zach Lowe of ESPN on his podcast that after the Milwaukee Bucks looked at possibly trading for Jerami Grant, that trading for Jae Crowder would be something they would consider. The connection of reported interest in Jerami Grant is what leads Zach Lowe to believe the Milwaukee Bucks “will look” at Jae Crowder.

Jae Crowder is currently 32 years old and in the final year of a 3-year/$29.1 million contract. Crowder is set to make $10.1 for the 2022-23 season. Certainly an acquirable contract after the Milwaukee Bucks have been rumored to be interested in other players making more this upcoming season like Jordan Clarkson and Derrick Rose.

Jae Crowder to the Bucks also makes a little bit of extra sense when you factor in that Jae Crowder played his college ball in Milwaukee at Marquette University, so some familiarity for the forward could be a factor if Phoenix is willing to indulge Crowder’s potential preference in where he’s traded.

That being said, this is just a rumor from someone at ESPN, not anyone connected to the team, however, would a Milwaukee Bucks – Phoenix Suns trade centered on Jae Crowder make sense for both teams? Let’s look at a couple possible deals the teams could swing.