After trading away three players and five second round selections to acquire him this past season, the Milwaukee Bucks made it clear that they were fond of Jae Crowder.
With that in mind, it always seemed like they envisioned him being a part of their long-term plans rather than a mercenary. Despite how things played out during his first few months in Milwaukee, where he was primarily glued to the bench, it always seemed like Crowder may be open to sticking around in Milwaukee, given his love for the city and the new coaching regime. Indeed, Crowder put his name on the dotted line of a one-year deal this off-season to stay in town.
Now that the financial figures have been revealed, let us grade the deal.
The financial aspect of Jae Crowder’s deal with the Milwaukee Bucks
It was widely expected that Crowder’s deal would be close to the minimum, which has now been confirmed. According to The Athletic’s Eric Nehm, Crowder’s deal is worth the veteran minimum for next season. Per Spotrac, the exact figure is $3.2 million for 2023-24.
Crowder is unquestionably a player worth more than a minimum. Yes, he had a rough showing in a Bucks jersey last season, but it was also his first legitimate basketball in months, and he was hurt later in the season, on top of being in a new system. When he knows the system and has a rapport with his teammates, he can be a much more impactful piece. This is a player who could potentially be a starter for Milwaukee on the opening night of the 2023-24 NBA season, so having him on a minimum deal is extremely good value.
On top of all of that, this deal likely keeps the Bucks below the second tax apron, which is huge for a team that is already limited financially. For a team that entered the off-season with very little spending money, the Bucks had to hit on their minimum deals. Between this and the signings of Malik Beasley and Robin Lopez, they have done so thus far by bringing in a few veteran pieces.