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Blazers’ Jamal Crawford on the Move?
By Yannis Koutroupis
Senior NBA Writer & College Basketball Editor
The Portland Trail Blazers are enduring a trying season at 18-19 and changes could be on the horizon. One Blazer who is garnering a lot of interest in particular is shooting guard Jamal Crawford.
Sources confirm to HOOPSWORLD that Crawford, who was signed as an unrestricted free agent this offseason to be retired shooting guard Brandon Roy’s replacement, is on several team’s radar. The Los Angeles Clippers and Minnesota Timberwolves are pursuing him the strongest, but the Sacramento Kings, Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks have also expressed interest.
Crawford has a very reasonable contract that is paying him $5 million this year with a player option for the same amount next season. Sources also revealed that the Blazers are concerned that he will not exercise that option this summer and that they’ll lose him in free agency. His recent move into the starting lineup directly coincides with that fear.
If a good enough offer comes along, the Blazers could take it to ensure they get something for Crawford rather than risking losing him this summer for nothing.
The problem is there’s no clear pecking order in Portland right now. Teams trying to deal with them have voiced frustration because they are unsure of who to talk to. As bad as things are in the locker room right now, they’re not much better in the front office.
They will continue to receive phone calls, though, because Crawford’s value far exceeds his salary and teams in need of a shooting guard view him as someone who could come in, start and make a major difference for them.
By Yannis Koutroupis
Senior NBA Writer & College Basketball Editor
The Portland Trail Blazers are enduring a trying season at 18-19 and changes could be on the horizon. One Blazer who is garnering a lot of interest in particular is shooting guard Jamal Crawford.
Sources confirm to HOOPSWORLD that Crawford, who was signed as an unrestricted free agent this offseason to be retired shooting guard Brandon Roy’s replacement, is on several team’s radar. The Los Angeles Clippers and Minnesota Timberwolves are pursuing him the strongest, but the Sacramento Kings, Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks have also expressed interest.
Crawford has a very reasonable contract that is paying him $5 million this year with a player option for the same amount next season. Sources also revealed that the Blazers are concerned that he will not exercise that option this summer and that they’ll lose him in free agency. His recent move into the starting lineup directly coincides with that fear.
If a good enough offer comes along, the Blazers could take it to ensure they get something for Crawford rather than risking losing him this summer for nothing.
The problem is there’s no clear pecking order in Portland right now. Teams trying to deal with them have voiced frustration because they are unsure of who to talk to. As bad as things are in the locker room right now, they’re not much better in the front office.
They will continue to receive phone calls, though, because Crawford’s value far exceeds his salary and teams in need of a shooting guard view him as someone who could come in, start and make a major difference for them.
