Pros and cons of the Milwaukee Bucks keeping free agent Jae Crowder

For months leading up to the 2023 NBA Trade Deadline, Jae Crowder was viewed as the top target for the Milwaukee Bucks.

They landed their prized acquisition on the day of the deadline, and it seemed like Crowder would play a big role for them down the stretch. Unfortunately, things never quite panned out that way, especially in the playoffs, where Crowder scarcely played. After the Bucks’ loss to the Miami Heat in the first round, Crowder stated that he was confused as to why Milwaukee traded for him if they were not going to play him (Via the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel – subscription required).

The Bucks will now have to ponder if they want to bring the free agent forward back for another go-round, and here are the pros and cons of doing so.

The pros of the Milwaukee Bucks keeping Jae Crowder

On paper, Crowder is everything the Bucks want in a role player. He’s a versatile defender who can defend several different positions due to his switchability. He’s also a solid perimeter shooter and was great during the regular season, having buried 43.6 percent of his triples as a Buck. Yes, there were plenty of struggles on Crowder’s end during his time in the 414, but due to those attributes, he could help this team next season.

In addition to his “3-and-D stature,” Crowder possesses toughness and battle-tested experience. That toughness undoubtedly could have been used during the first round matchup with the Heat; a team can never have too many enforcers and players willing to do the dirty work. As for Crowder and his experience, he’s played in 111 playoff games, including two trips to the NBA Finals. For a Milwaukee team looking to win more championships, experience is a factor, and Crowder has it.

Retaining a 3-and-D wing with a boatload of playoff experience would not be the worst thing for the Bucks as they look to make some tough decisions regarding this roster.