Has Jae Crowder played his last game for the Boston Celtics?

Without the NBA’s third leading scorer in Isaiah Thomas, the Celtics were simply no match for the Cavaliers. Cleveland’s march to the NBA Finals was simply a matter of when the defending champion would put the number one seed out of its misery.

Thomas’ absence shed light on a glaring void that had been lurking in the shadows, anxious to peer its ugly head all season long. Beyond the explosive and diminutive fireball, Boston really had no one else to turn to as a consistent secondary offensive option. The way today’s NBA teams are built, formidable lineups feature a strong one-two scoring punch. The Celtics have prided themselves on putting forth a gritty and physical effort on both ends of the floor. They have tremendous depth and versatility. As far as the future is concerned, their mix of veteran stability and a promising future, enhanced by top notch young talent, is a desirable situation for any team to be in. The organization is in a special spot going forward, but the scoring void gives way to a cause for concern.

Luckily, the offseason presents teams with a chance to reflect and Boston has flexibility to make the necessary improvements. The team has already been attached to big marquee trade options like Jimmy Butler and Carmelo Anthony. With the Bulls and Knicks chomping at the bit to make a break from their respective stars, the availability of each one has only risen.

Read More: Jaylen Brown talked big and made progress against LeBron James

That’s good news for the Celtics, who undoubtedly have the assets necessary to broker such a deal. This organization has impressively gathered future draft picks galore, including the Nets’ 2018 first round pick. With Phil Jackson’s continued knocks and critiques of Carmelo Anthony, the veteran forward’s value has floundered in recent months. The same can’t entirely be said about Jimmy Butler, however, whose youth and overall talents could garner consideration for the Celtics to part with this year’s number one overall pick to reel him in. Either way, there are also likely be players in Bean Town changing addresses as well.

Perhaps the most likely to depart in any blockbuster deal would be Jae Crowder. After all, a team has to give up value in order to get value back. With the the likes of Thomas, Al Horford, and Avery Bradley around, Crowder stands tall as Boston’s most expendable quality player. That will bode especially true if they haul a wing/forward like Butler or Anthony back in return.

This, however, should in no means come as a disappointment to the team that may acquire him. He may not be a bonafide star, but there’s still so much to like with Crowder. He’s a far cry from the raw prospect he broke into the league as with the Mavericks. Much like his teammate Bradley, Crowder has flourished into one of the best two-way players in the game. The versatile forward built upon a career year, his first with the Celtics, and only continued adding to his game in helping Boston secure the top East seed this season. Proving to be quite the dependable (if complementary) player on offense, Crowder shot career-high percentages of 46 percent from the field and an even more eye-popping 40 percent from downtown.

Crowder isn’t going to carry a team on his shoulders or light the world on fire. He simply isn’t that sort of player. His hungry desire, grit, physicality, and downright frightening toughness makes him the kind of teammate people want and a player any organization should desperately crave. He takes pressure off others, throws his body around and is completely and utterly outspoken. In some cases this may get him in trouble, but most contenders still employ someone who is willing to stand up for others in such a fashion. He makes a statement and sets a formidable tone for those around him. Such an attitude is difficult to teach.

While the five-year, $35 million contract Crowder signed back in 2015 may have appeared to be a steep investment at the time, he’s certainly gone on to prove his worth over the last two seasons, so much so that the deal should actually be considered a bargain in today’s booming NBA economy. All of this comes in a package that is just 26-years old.

Next: The NBA Finals matchup we wanted is here, now let's take a week off to reflect

It’s quite easy to sing Crowder’s praises. All of this gives him value to prospective trade partners. As for why the Celtics could part with him, it’s clear they need more offensive firepower. There’s still room to improve if they’re truly committed to closing the competitive gap between themselves and the Cavaliers. With all of this under consideration, Crowder could be the one holding the short straw as this team looks to upgrade.