The future of Jamal Crawford has been highly debated since the Los Angeles Clippers bolstered their bench with players like Paul Pierce and Lance Stephenson. Suddenly the former Sixth Man of the Year was expendable as trade rumors began to rise around the guard. While there is still a chance that Crawford could be on the move, something he confirmed on social media, head coach Doc Rivers is not ready to agree to terms with teams like the Miami Heat.
According to Rivers via Fred Roggin on The Beast 980, Rivers plans to keep Crawford through the end of his contract and use him the same way the Clippers have been. Crawford is signed through the season and will be a free agent come the summer. That makes him an easy trade target, but Rivers' stresses the team's commitment to the guard despite the additions of Austin Rivers, Stephenson and Pierce.
"I've heard all the rumors about Jamal going other places," Rivers said, via The Beast 980. "Jamal's a Clipper and I would be very surprised if he's not a Clipper by the season's end."
Of course this could easily change at a moment's notice, but for now Los Angeles is content with Crawford. The issue might be finding the best trade partner that could give the Clippers are deal they could actually use. The Miami Heat were thought to be that team, but the trade appears dead heading into training camp. According to the Miami Herald, the Heat were attempting to shop both Chris Andersen and Mario Chalmers in a deal for Crawford, but the Clippers do not appear interested in that package and will move forward.
The Heat have been trying to dump Andersen and Chalmers in order to get salary cap relief as they prepare to get hit with luxury taxes, but no trade deals are coming together leaving Miami to go into the season with both players. The Heat could attempt to shop both players mid-season or they will simply allow Andersen and Chalmers to play out the last years of their contract and head into free agency.
Miami has a lot of big decisions coming up. According to Zach Lowe at Grantland, there are doubts that Hassan Whiteside will remain in Miami. There are conflicting reports about the center as some believe the Heat are making him a priority next offseason while others say Kevin Durant could hurt the player's future. To make matters worse, the Heat will have to get Dwyane Wade signed to a new deal and it is clear he has no interest in a hometown discount. All of those factors could hurt Whiteside's future should he have a good season and demand more money.
