With September nearing, former Milwaukee Bucks forward Jae Crowder is still looking for his next place to call home.
After a season and a half in Milwaukee, the odds of a return are slim to none, especially with their entire 18-man roster now full. It wouldn't be surprising if someone handed Crowder a deal to join them for camp, but even then, it's shocking to see how much his value has decreased over the last year or so during his time with the Milwaukee Bucks that it has now reached this point.
Less than two years ago, he was one of the hottest trade targets on the market. Just ask the Bucks, who gave up an assortment of assets to get Jae Crowder at the 2023 NBA Trade Deadline.
Jae Crowder's current availability makes Bucks' trade even worse
There was a time when the Milwaukee Bucks believed Jae Crowder could be a difference-maker for their squad. After a pursuit that lasted months, Milwaukee gave up five second-round picks and a trio of players, albeit not key cogs, to get the forward. The package was always viewed as a big swing for the Bucks, but if Jae Crowder lived up to expectations, it wouldn't have mattered.
Rather than going down in history as a P.J. Tucker-esque addition in terms of impact, Crowder never found his footing and scarcely made an impact in the big moments. Averaging a mere two points and 1.3 rebounds in 10.4 minutes per contest in two trips to the NBA Playoffs was certainly not what the Milwaukee Bucks envisioned when they emptied their asset stash in the Jae Crowder trade.
The forward's time in Milwaukee went so poorly that he's still a free agent, and the odds of him getting picked up seem to be slimming by the day. In hindsight, those five second-rounders could have been used wisely elsewhere. No one can fault Milwaukee's front office for making an aggressive play at a well-known player who should have been a tremendous addition.
Still, there's no doubt the deal looks bad right now, highlighted by Jae Crowder's availability.
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