Phoenix Suns: How a deal could look after Hawks linked with Crowder

The Atlanta Hawks have emerged as a major suitor for wantaway Phoenix Suns veteran Jae Crowder, with the two sides having reportedly been discussing a deal over recent months.

Atlanta already made a major move this offseason, acquiring exciting San Antonio Spurs guard Dejounte Murray in a deal that saw Jock Landale eventually end up at the Suns. The Hawks’ link to Crowder signals their intention to dive into genuine championship contention, one built around their All-Star backcourt of Murray and Trae Young.

The Atlanta Hawks aren’t an ideal trading partner for the Phoenix Suns on Jae Crowder, that is unless they can combine salaries for an upgrade.

The news was reported by The Athletics’ Shams Charania on Monday, with the Hawks one of multiple parties interested in adding the 32-year-old forward.

The issue for the Suns is the Hawks only hold one player of equivalent salary to Crowder’s $10.1 million expiring deal. That’s Deandre Hunter, the fourth-year forward who Atlanta will never include in a Crowder package.

That leaves a situation where any potential deal would almost certainly involve a 2-for-1 or even 3-for-1 swap. Phoenix’s best outcome would be if they were the team giving up multiple players, with Bogdan Bogdanovic the likely target.

The Serbian makes $18 million and has a player option for the same number next season. The Suns could add any of Dario Saric, Landry Shamet, Cameron Payne or Torrey Craig to Crowder in order for the money to work. Why would Atlanta give up the best player in the deal though? It seems unlikely even if Crowder provides a better fit for them than Bogdanovic.

Then you come to the more realistic scenario, one that perhaps won’t appease a Suns team still very much in title contention themselves. The Hawks have the $6.3 million salary of Justin Holiday, the veteran wing who could replace at least some of what Crowder provided. From there Atlanta would have to include another minor salary, with Phoenix possibly pushing for second-year forward Jalen Johnson.

A Holiday-Johnson deal doesn’t seem great for the Suns, but it’s one that fans may have to prepare themselves for. Full credit to James Jones if he can manoeuvre into getting Bogdanovic, however that seems a pipe dream that simply shouldn’t be the expectation.