Once this preseason opening lineup is introduced, Phoenix SunsThe players gathered on the side of the court. A group of larger-than-life bowling pins clatter happily and bounce off the hardwood. I don’t care if the team is for sale, following the revelation of Robert Thurber’s long-rumored behavior.not to worry … a debut defeat at the hands of the Adelaide 36ers?
Starting center DeAndre Ayton veered from a loud media day, commenting on strained communication after a Game 7 flameout against head coach Monty Williams. Dallas Mavericks During the playoffs and during Ayton’s icy standoff during restricted free agency.
‘Everything is back to normal,’ says Ayton told the Arizona Republic on Monday.
Perhaps all these vibes are simply the result of addition and subtraction. He’s just two wins away from his NBA Championship in 2021, and he’s one notable linchpin from the heart of the Suns. The day before training camp Phoenix announces franchise, Jay Crowder The 10-year veteran has agreed to step away from basketball activity, and both sides have struggled to find a suitable trade for the 32-year-old swingman.
Three weeks later, just days before the regular season ends, Crowder is still standing as the major transactional Domino front office across the league awaits decline.Lakers trade fever Russell Westbrook It seems to have disappeared for the time being.Miles Turner and Jacob Poeltl We are far from rebuilding the team.
Rumors about Crowder’s availability have been circulating among league decision-makers since the June draft. NBA officials understand that Crowder has since asked Phoenix to be traded, and that the Suns are happy to accept it. With the deal expiring, sources say the Suns are unwilling to offer an extension of similar value that Crowder is dominating again. Maxi Kleber Larry Nance, aged 30 and 29 respectively, signed three-year, $33 million and two-year, $21.6 million extensions this offseason.
Instead, Phoenix is looking to replace Crowder in the starting group and is getting Cam Johnson.Tracking team trades Kevin Durant This summer, sources said Sands officials were adamant that Johnson was off-limits. The ballpark had suggested he hoped to re-sign the 26-year-old sniper. It’s definitely colored.
But the lack of Crowder and the move of Johnson to the starting line-up created a huge hole in Williams’ competitive rotation. Johnson injured his right thumb last week and is currently out of action. With the regular season kicking off and a potential championship piece lurking in the shadows, how long will it be before the sun shines in Phoenix’s pregame mosh pit?
Phoenix has told teams inquiring that they only want to move Crowder to a player or combination of players who can currently contribute to a win. , as soon as Brooklyn sent the 2023 selection to Utah for Lois O’Neal, he would have already been moved.
Pretty famously, though, the Suns may spend less resources scouting and evaluating drafts than any of their rivals. Strangely enough, Phoenix is the only team in his NBA that hasn’t owed a pick from a previous trade or has no upcoming picks. The This Suns front office appears to operate on a year-long schedule, with each campaign being its own trip around the Monopoly board, complete with its own set of resources to thrive and reach ‘GO’ again. increase. That way, you’ll never be asset-strapped with just a distant first-round pick to upgrade your roster.
So finding another Jay Crowder waiting in the wings is inherently difficult. Crowder’s personality is said to be particularly clash with that of Williams, in addition to questions about Crowder’s role and contract.
There are plenty of teams out there eager to acquire Crowder and embracing who he is and how he won, but either don’t have the talent they want to let go, or a deal that makes sense for Phoenix when the Suns stand up. i don’t have $15 million in taxes. The Suns have enough bench tiers to win a regular season game, but they didn’t escape the second round last spring.
All of this leads rival executives to question why Phoenix left Crowder off the team in the first place. When a team declares a design to trade a player, it’s considered a cardinal rule to essentially devalue him.
“I thought it was strange how Phoenix played in this situation,” a Western Conference executive told Yahoo Sports. “You are not a very deep team.
“It’s pretty rare for Jay to hold up. It’s pretty extreme,” said an Eastern Conference executive. “It’s really interesting that they didn’t just play hardball with him.”
Crowder has often been mentioned as a prime target in Miami, replacing fellow mercenary forward PJ Tucker after Tucker’s departure to Philadelphia in free agency.
Heat officials have even expressed confidence that Miami is Crowder’s preferred destination. didn’t want to leave Miami, but Miami didn’t like the 30-3 numbers Crowder wanted at the time. So why not wait to see if Crowder finally finds an acquisition in Phoenix or somewhere and returns to South Beach with open arms?
Zach Lowe already detailed How hard it will be for Miami to find Crowder a matching salary until Caleb Martin, Victor Oladipo and Dwayne Dedmon are trade eligible in a matter of months. rejected a potential starting opportunity in Washington to return to Miami in free agency for an influential position. Attempts to evaluate the current group through a game-sized sample.
Other destinations where Crowder has been successful are, of course, linked as suitors. You don’t want to get an injured veteran while he’s recovering. Unless that transfer improved the Suns significantly and Memphis itself isn’t actively pursuing Crowder. Neither does Dallas, according to multiple people with knowledge of the situation, another team that seems to be mentioned whenever a two-way wing becomes available.
Crowder found his professional stride in Boston at the start of Brad Stevens’ tenure as coach. It’s true that losing Danilo Gallinari to a torn ACL has created a gap in Boston’s frontcourt, but Gallinari’s contract won’t be traded until Dec. 15.
Sources say there won’t be a contract extension for forward Grant Williams. And the Suns are believed to be interested in Derrick White. However, Boston just sent a first-round pick and future pick swap to serve San Antonio in February. is. The Celtics are also not involved in Crowder’s trade situation at this time, according to sources.
In addition to Miami, the investigative team was told Atlanta was another preferred landing site for Crowder. A potential framework for Shamet is being circulated among front office staff.Atlanta. The Hawks and Suns have been having conversations over the summer about Crowder.
Some league executives have wondered if the Hawks are willing to let go of DeAndre Hunter, who is in extension talks with Atlanta, but Crowder alone seems too little compensation for the Hawks to consider. The Hawks said rival team Hunters will not be traded this summer.
Perhaps there’s a three-team framework with Atlanta where the Hawks can send young players like Justin Holiday’s deal and salaries to Phoenix. Another forward known to be interested in playing elsewhere, Rockets forward KJ Martin is one player the Suns are in ongoing negotiations to acquire. said the source. Portland and Miami are his two other teams interested in Martin.
In recent trading cycles, Phoenix has been looking to add some ball-handling depth behind Chris Paul and Devin Booker. Also, Jordan Clarkson, who is one of many veteran players thought to be available in Utah, is one of his guards in the Dynamic that the Suns are considering landing in exchange for Crowder. is, said the source. Would Phoenix be willing to attach bill capital in that scenario? As a result, Crowder would likely secure a buyout from Utah and a destination of his choice, though salary is unknown.
What remains is the inevitable conclusion of this situation, and the team determines that Crowder’s price is acceptable and willing to match his future contract wishes.
“You really have to think he pushed you to the top,” one assistant general manager told Yahoo Sports. “Phoenix are pocketing or bluffing with something they know is good enough for them. D-Day, let’s see what happens on opening night.”
