Even though the free agency period doesn’t officially begin until July 1, rumors across the league linking certain teams to certain players are beginning to gain traction.
Though he was largely marginalized last season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Jamal Crawford is set to prove he still has plenty left in the tank and figures to have a handful of teams interested in his services. According to ESPN’s Zach Lowe, Crawford and the defending champ Golden State Warriors share mutual interest in a reunion this summer.
There is some mutual interest between the Warriors and Jamal Crawford in a potential minimum deal, sources say. He might want more than the minimum. It’s unclear if the Warriors will use their mini-midlevel exception, but if they do, it likely will not be on Crawford.
Crawford played with the Warriors for a brief period spanning just 54 games in 2008-09. The shifty scorer averaged 19.7 points and 4.4 assists as the teams starting point guard, a role he was not accustomed to.
Similar to last offseason’s free agency addition of Nick Young, a few key members of the Warriors are again lobbying for them to sign Crawford. According to The Athletic’s Marcus Thompson, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and others are pushing for the Warriors to add the veteran combo guard.
Last year, a vouching from stars Draymond Green and Kevin Durant, and coach Steve Kerr, led to the Warriors taking a flyer on Nick Young. This year, an even stronger push is being made for Jamal Crawford.
Green and Durant are already lobbying. Stephen Curry is on board. Some of the assistant coaches want him, too. It will be enough to get Myers on the phone with Crawford’s agent, Aaron Goodwin, when the free agency period begins at 9 p.m. [Pacific Time, 12 a.m. Eastern] on Saturday.
His minor stint with the Warriors almost a decade ago was the last starting role Jamal Crawford held in the NBA. Since then, Crawford has transformed into the premier threat off the bench in the entire NBA, though it’s clear his prime is now well behind him.
Last year with the Wolves, the aging Crawford averaged the lowest minutes per game since his rookie season, as should’ve been expected as a reserve on a Tom Thibodeau-led team.
With his game based more on his expansive skill set than pure athleticism, the 38-year-old Jamal Crawford should still be able to provide a valuable spark off the bench and could add another explosive punch to Golden State’s dangerous second unit.
