A talented player, but difficult to predict. Jordan Crawford is doing reasonably well with the Boston Celtics this season, but on a team that’s more or less tanking that might mean he’s up for a trade, giving the Miami Heat, looking to add some talent to its backcourt, an opportunity to trade for the 25-year old shooting guard.
According to Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News, the Heat are looking for someone to help them relive the pressure off of Dwyane Wade, who has been getting games off this season so his knee will be in the best shape possible when the playoffs come around. Ray Allen and Norris Cole might be decent subs, but considering how good the Indiana Pacers have been early this season, there are those who might think that the Heat could need a slight improvement in order to shift the odds into their favor.
Crawford was actually the Eastern conference player of the week last week, averaging 23.3 and 6.7 assists while the Celtics went 3-0. However, the way the Celtics approach this whole Crawford deal will be a true telling of their indications this season – actually tanking, despite currently leading the Atlantic division, almost by mistake, and rebuilding by loading up on draft picks while getting rid of expiring deals (like Crawford’s) and unwanted players, or doing the best they can to get into the playoffs?
For the Miami Heat, Crawford is unlikely a long term acquisition if they actually bring him over. He becomes a restricted free agent after this season, and is mostly out to improve the deals he’s going to get. Right now, a qualifying offer of $3.2 million will make him a restricted free agent, but having a strong season with the Heat or the Celtics might bring him into another level of available deals.
Right now it seems the Heat have a very set and organized rotation, with each player knowing his place. However, one might argue that with Wade taking more minutes and nights off than before, some tweaking might be useful, especially with Ray Allen not getting any younger, and Crawford possibly bringing something no one on the Heat’s bench has at the moment in terms of offensive ability.