Jae Crowder hasn’t attracted much interest in NBA free agency this offseason, being available and ready to sign less than six weeks before opening night. However, the 34-year-old could be on the move with one of the Western Conference’s most competitive franchises taking a look at him.
Crowder is expected to practice with the Sacramento Kings this week, by Sean Cunningham of FOX40which would officially close the door on a two-year run with the Milwaukee Bucks. Crowder would be just the latest of several seasoned veterans Sacramento has considered, including the former Boston Celtics teammate Isaiah Thomas — Thomas worked with the Kings in August in hopes of an audition.
Milwaukee has used Crowder’s 3-point shooting and defensive persistence in a part-time starter/reserve role – Crowder has started in 25 of 50 appearances. averaging 6.2 points and 3.2 rebounds He shot 42.2 percent from the field and 34.9 percent from three-point range, but that role diminished with the Bucks’ rotations throughout their first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers. Crowder logged 10.5 minutes in four appearances despite the series lasting six games, averaging 2.3 points and a first-round exit that led him and the organization into the offseason.
Crowder is no stranger to the West, returning after a two-year stint with the Phoenix Suns that included a failed trip to the NBA Finals — the Bucks won in six games. Of course, Crowder’s liability, if signed by Sacramento, would naturally increase because the Kings have yet to establish themselves as a legitimate threat in the conference; certainly not at the level of rivals such as the Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves or Oklahoma City Thunder. Sacramento booked its last trip to the playoffs in 2023 and suffered a first-round exit at the hands of the Golden State Warriors, the first time the Kings have earned a playoff spot in 17 years.
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Until Sacramento recovers from its lowly 46-36 record as the conference’s ninth seed and competes next season, it will perpetuate Crowder’s reputation for landing in competitive, playoff-hungry organizations, including his three-year tenure with the then-underdog Celtics.