Jamal Crawford has come up in trade rumors again this summer in connection with the Miami Heat, NY Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers and the LA Clippers could look at a deal with Jose Calderon, Mario Chalmers, Chris Andersen, Josh McRoberts or Anderson Varejao if Crawford is eventually traded.
The Clippers have Crawford as a trade target for teams after all the moves they made this summer to add bench scoring, including signing Paul Pierce. Crawford was a great sixth man option off the bench, but with Pierce, Josh Smith, Pablo Prigioni and Wesley Johnson all coming in to join JJ Redick, DeAndre Jordan and Chris Paul, there will not be nearly as many chances or minutes for Crawford moving forward. Crawford is reportedly unhappy about his role and now there are reports that teams are interested in making a trade for the guard.
According to Frank Isola at the NY Daily News, the New York Knicks have "expressed interest" in Crawford and he could be an option for the team to add some scoring off the bench. Isola writes that the Cleveland Cavaliers have shown some interest, while Ira Winderman at the Sun Sentinel reports that the Miami Heat have also looked at Crawford. Earlier in July the Cavs and Heat were mentioned as potential options for a deal, but nothing came close to happening.
Crawford is coming in after averaging nearly 16 points per game for the Clippers and he is in the final year of his contract. The Knicks roster right now can't handle Crawford coming on his own, but a trade with Jose Calderon or Langston Galloway could fit. Pro Basketball Talk reports that Calderon could be a trade target, as Calderon responded on social media about potential interest from the Clippers and the Timberwolves.
The Knicks reportedly are interested in Crawford and Ricky Rubio and the team could push deals with the Clippers and Timberwolves to try and get something done. The Clippers could look at a deal for Calderon with Crawford, as that would give the team some strong depth at point guard behind Chris Paul. The Miami Heat is another strong option for a deal, as the Clippers can look at Mario Chalmers, Josh McRoberts or Chris Andersen as options depending on where they want to add depth. The Clippers have Pablo Prigioni and Austin Rivers behind Paul and adding Calderon would give the team another veteran option off the bench.
Winderman writes that the money with Andersen or McRoberts could fit the bill for the Clippers. Miami has been trying to trade Chalmers all offseason and he also could be an option for the Clippers. The Cavaliers have signed Quinn Cook to a camp deal and they could look at a trade for Crawford if the team doesn't bring back JR Smith. The Cavs want strong bench scoring for this season and if things can't work out with Smith, the Cavaliers have Anderson Varejao as a trade chip and a trade exception from the Brendan Haywood deal to the Blazers.
Check here for more on the interest in Jamal Crawford and for more on the Knicks potential deals with Jose Calderon. Check here for more on the Miami Heat shopping Andersen and Chalmers and interest from the Cavaliers in a deal with Crawford.
