NBA training camps are just around the corner and veteran shooting guard Jamal Crawford is still on the open market.
Crawford declined his 2018-19 player option with the Minnesota Timberwolves and is currently an unrestricted free agent. In 80 regular season games with the Timberwolves last year, Crawford averaged 10.3 points while shooting 41.5 percent from the field and 33.1 percent from three-point range.
He is looking for a larger role, though, as Crawford only played roughly 20 minutes a game with the Timberwolves. ESPN’s Marc Spears, during an appearance on The Jump, said Crawford isn’t close to joining a new team, but has garnered interest from the Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors.
“I just received a text from him,” Spears said. “Nothing yet, but he’s had some interest from the Lakers, had some interest from the Sixers. Had some from Golden State, although I don’t think the Golden State thing will be there with Patrick McCaw coming back.”
The Sixers and Crawford have mutual interest in getting a deal done, but the contract of Jerryd Bayless is currently holding up all talks. Bayless has one year left on his contract and is slated to make $8.6 million in 2018-19.
The Sixers lost rookie guard Zhaire Smith to a Jones fracture and have grown more interested in Crawford’s services since the news broke that Smith would require surgery. The team let Ersan İlyasova and Marco Belinelli walk in free agency and is in need of a guy like Crawford who can come off the bench and get buckets in a hurry.
Charlotte Hornets point guard Kemba Walker, who is close friends with Jamal Crawford, is puzzled why Crawford hasn’t been picked up yet.
“I have no idea why he’s a free agent, man,” Walker told Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson of Scoop B Radio. “Everybody loves J.C. He’s a great dude first of all and basketball-wise, I mean, everybody knows what he does. He’ll bring it every night. He can score with the best of ’em.”
