Before the 2022-23 NBA season began, ESPN’s Zach Lowe (subscription required) reported that the Milwaukee Bucks would spend the year looking for “one more piece.”
The Bucks have been linked to a handful of players lately, including Jordan Clarkson, Jerami Grant, and Bojan Bogdanovic, as they appear to be hard at work trying to find that piece. As Lowe said in his reporting, Jae Crowder is a player who the Bucks also have an interest in. Milwaukee’s interest was reaffirmed earlier this week when The Athletic’s Shams Charania (subscription required) reported that the Bucks have had recent conversations with the Phoenix Suns regarding Crowder. It appears that Crowder is a player the Bucks have their sights set on, and the forward may be the “one more piece” they are reportedly looking to acquire.
Is Jae Crowder a realistic trade target for the Milwaukee Bucks?
From the moment Jae Crowder requested a trade from Phoenix prior to the start of training camp, the Milwaukee Bucks have made sense as a suitor. The Bucks are always in the hunt for more help on the defensive end, and Crowder is exactly that. The 6-foot-6 power forward would be another switchable defender for Coach Mike Budenholzer to utilize. Having Crowder would make for some outright formidable defensive lineups alongside players like Jrue Holiday, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Wesley Matthews, and others. In short, if the Bucks are looking to tune up their defense, Crowder is undoubtedly a player they should have on their radar.
Looking beyond the fit, Crowder is also a reasonable target for the Bucks from a financial view. The veteran is on the books for an expiring $10.1 million this season, which is quite reasonable for the cash-strapped Bucks. Despite the affordability, the biggest question regarding a trade that would send Crowder back to the state where he played his college basketball is what a deal may look like. The Bucks have finite assets at their disposal, but Crowder could be a player they believe is worth going all-in for, given his experience and defensive stature. If so, here are two trade packages the Bucks could offer to the Suns involving Crowder.
2 trade packages to help the Milwaukee Bucks acquire Jae Crowder
If the Milwaukee Bucks plan on trading for Jae Crowder anytime soon, Grayson Allen will almost certainly have to be involved. With a huge chunk of the Bucks’ roster ineligible to be traded right now, Allen and his $8.5 million salary this season would have to be used to acquire Crowder and his $10.1 million -unless Milwaukee was to move Brook Lopez or any of the Big 3, which is very unlikely. A straight-up Allen for Crowder swap works financially, and it could be beneficial for the two teams involved.
Looking at it through Milwaukee’s lens, adding Crowder would give them a notable defender who could make any team’s defense better on impact. Crowder has often drawn some comparisons to a former Buck in P.J. Tucker, who helped the team win a title in 2021 by playing great defense and hitting his outside shots. Tucker fit in so well because he could do that while sliding to the power forward position when the Bucks went small, and Crowder could do the exact same. Losing Allen may hurt the Bucks on the offensive end, as the guard is one of the team’s best 3-point shooters, but there is no question that the move would help fortify the defense further.
For the Suns, they would be getting a player who could help them right now as they look to make some noise in the Western Conference this season. Rather than keeping a disgruntled Crowder, it would make sense for them to add Allen, who is coming off his best season as a professional yet. Last season, he averaged 11.1 points per game and shot a red-hot 40.9 percent from long range, and numbers like that could certainly be enticing to Phoenix. The two guard is also on a relatively affordable contract as he is on the books for $8.5 million this season and next season.
2 trade packages to help the Milwaukee Bucks acquire Jae Crowder
If a straight-up swap involving Grayson Allen and Jae Crowder is not in the cards, things could get interesting if both teams were to add more players to the mix. Here, the Milwaukee Bucks would add George Hill and the Phoenix Suns would add Torrey Craig to the negotiations. Both veterans could make sense for the team that would be receiving them in this hypothetical trade package.
For the Bucks, their interest in Crowder suggests that they are in the market for more switchable defenders who can also knock down the long ball. While he may not be the player that Crowder is, Craig can do both of those things too. The 6-foot-7 forward would give the Bucks some more wing depth, which, as evidenced by last season, is something this team can never have enough of. Fans will remember that Craig suited up for the Bucks briefly during the 2020-21 season but was dealt to the Suns after struggling to find his role. While that situation may turn some fans away, Craig is a player who fits the archetype of what the Bucks are currently seeking, and his $5.1 million salary this season is attainable.
As for the Suns, moving Craig wouldn’t be a shocking move, as the forward is currently playing the fewest minutes of his career at 14.7 per game. It would make sense if he were packaged alongside Crowder in a trade. In addition to getting Allen in this trade, the Suns would also land a household veteran in George Hill. Though the 36-year-old is not the player he once was, he has shown some burst this season, and he could be a decent addition to Phoenix’s backcourt depth. At the absolute minimum, Hill would be a backup who has quality experience and whose contract ends once the season concludes. Not to mention that this deal would also help the Suns save a little money.
Stay tuned to see if the Milwaukee Bucks make a push to trade for Jae Crowder.