With about three hours remaining before the NBA Trade Deadline ended, The Milwaukee Bucks made a key trade that was four months in the making.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania was the first to report that the Bucks were landing Jae Crower from the Brooklyn Nets in a deal involving five second rounders. The Bucks and their fans hope Jae Crowder is the championship deadline move similar to what P.J. Tucker was for the team in 2021. I will provide three reasons to love the Jae Crowder trade.
3 Reasons to love the Milwaukee Bucks’ stellar Jae Crowder trade: Versatility
Versatility is key to winning a title in today’s NBA. Having players who are versatile enough to defend multiple positions gives teams a distinct advantage over their opponents. Crowder, as a versatile 3-and-D defender, fits this mold perfectly.
By adding Crowder, the Bucks are able to mimic last year’s closing lineup which features Giannis Antetokounmpo at the center position. Crowders’ ability to guard multiple positions on the perimeter will pose a distinct threat to other contenders in the Eastern Conference who have multiple scorers on the perimeter. This will also allow players such as Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton to reserve energy on the defensive end at times which in turn, makes them more dangerous on the offensive end.
As a career 34 percent 3-point shooter, Crowder has a unique ability to stretch the floor as well. With the Suns in a loss to the Bucks in Game 3 of the 2021 NBA Finals, Crowder tied a playoff career-high with six 3-pointers made. Versatility is something Bucks fans should love about this trade.
3 Reasons to love the Milwaukee Bucks’ stellar Jae Crowder trade: Playoff Experience & Toughness
Despite only being in the NBA for 10 years; Jae Crowder has played in 107 career playoff games. That’s more than 30 more playoff games played than the next current Buck on the roster, Giannis Antetokounmpo, per Land of Basketball. That is a huge positive for this Bucks team. What comes with Playoff experience is toughness as well. Crowder brings an identity that’s similar to former Milwaukee Bucks player P.J. Tucker.
Washington Post and national NBA writer Ben Golliver quoted Giannis stating the comparison with Crowder and Tucker; “When you played with P.J., you had that different swag. You felt like a bully too. Jae brings that toughness, that edge to our team.” Fans have been comparing Crowder to Tucker since these trade rumors started, and understandably so.
Bucks fans should also know far too well how important Playoff experience and toughness are. Watching Antetokounmpo and Middleton grow from their first playoff appearance back in 2015 up until now has been special. Also, Bucks fans think about this for a moment. Have you ever heard a team say, “We have too many players with playoff experience on the roster?”
3 Reasons to love the Milwaukee Bucks’ stellar Jae Crowder trade: Instant Fan Favorite
Jae Crowder has been a fan favorite at every stop in his NBA career. From Dallas to Boston, a quick stint in Cleveland, to Utah, another quick run in Memphis, and both NBA Finals runs in Miami, and Phoenix, the fans have taken a liking to the forward.
Most Bucks Fans (Well, Marquette Bucks fans) may be fired up since Crowder played basketball for Marquette University, earning Big East Player of The Year as well as Second-team All-American Honors (AP) in 2012. Personally, I cannot wait for a Bobby Portis and Jae Crowder lineup on the floor and absolutely having Fiserv Forum going crazy with the constant hustle and effort that identifies with the city of Milwaukee and its fans.
I think Crowder will provide an instant spark and excitement to the team and fan base. Crowder expressed his own excitement with a few tweets as well. A couple of tweets stood out to me where Crowder calls Milwaukee “Home”, which isn’t truly surprising.
Jae Crowders’ relationship with Milwaukee already makes this fit an absolutely perfect match. It is almost to the point where The Bucks may have to think about keeping Crowder beyond this year, and maybe Crowder could be thinking the same.