After an offseason full of speculation and strange social media activity, the Phoenix Suns made it official by declaring that forward Jae Crowder wouldn’t be at training camp starting this week.
Crowder’s trade request has come after two successful seasons in Phoenix, including playing a significant impact in the team’s run to the NBA Finals in 2021. This certainly hasn’t been the public fallout that usually takes place prior to a trade request, yet mumblings about Crowder’s desire to leave Phoenix began almost immediately after the Suns 2021-22 season ended in calamitous fashion.
Despite holding a compromised position in the wake of Jae Crowder’s trade request, the Phoenix Suns must find value for the 32-year-old veteran.
Phoenix have two positions they can take here, but only one will satisfy fans still awaiting an elusive NBA championship. They could just want to move on from Crowder as quickly as possible, prioritizing the need to do something about the situation before the season starts.
That won’t procure an ideal outcome though, and it’s certainly not one the Suns should be entertaining. Even if they begin the season a player short, and subsequently find more on-court issues because of it, they can’t simply give in to Crowder’s demands in exchange for a player who’ll likely be glued to the bench come playoff time.
The Suns need to find a like-for-like replacement, even if they have to give up another player, pick or both to do so. Not only do they need someone similar to Crowder from a value perspective, but it needs to be a forward who can step into a vacated bench role assuming Cameron Johnson becomes the starting power-forward.
Here are three players who fit that bill perfectly, while also being potentially available for the right price.