Pros and cons of Cavs trade for Suns forward Jae Crowder

Pros of a Cavs trade for Suns forward Jae Crowder

Jae Crowder’s last three teams have either lead the league in wins or made the NBA Finals. Obviously, he is only one such piece of those wildly successful teams, but he has certainly been a key one. Last year his Defensive EPM (Estimated Plus-Minus) was in the 95th percentile for his position.

That’s Crowder’s calling card, is as a rugged and strong defender who can take on the league’s combo forwards. Whether it’s LeBron James, Kevin Durant or Kawhi Leonard, Crowder welcomes the matchups against the league’s elite. His quick hands help him to keep leverage and often poke away the ball for steals. At 6’6″ Crowder may seem slightly undersized for the 4, where he has primarily played the past few seasons, but his strength and 6’9″ wingspan help balance the ledger.

On offense he has settled into a low-usage role as an off-ball shooter, taking 71.9 percent of his shots from beyond the arc during his time in Phoenix. His usage rate last season on the Suns was essentially last on the team; he’s going to spot up, shoot when he is open, and play defense.

That’s the exact kind of player the Cavs need to glue the two ends of their starting lineup together. They don’t need more on-ball shot creation in the starting lineup, but rather a good defender who is willing to shoot.

Financially, Crowder is on a great contract, having signed for the Mid-Level Exception two offseasons ago. He will make just $10.2 million on an expiring deal this season, and if the Cavs traded for him they would end up with full Bird Rights next summer.