Jae Crowder to receive qualifying offer from Celtics
The Celtics will extend Jae Crowder a qualifying offer to keep him in Boston.
The Boston Celtics will extend a qualifying offer to forward Jae Crowder, the team announced on Thursday. Danny Ainge, the Celtics’ president of basketball operations, revealed the team’s plan at a press conference.
“I can emphatically say that we will definitely qualify Jae Crowder, which I think is pretty obvious,” said Ainge.
To keep Crowder in Boston, the Celtics, after extending the $1.2 million offer, will have the opportunity to match any other offer that Crowder may receive over the summer when free agency begins.
By making the qualifying offer, Crowder will become a restricted free agent.
This decision of the Celtics comes as no surprise, rather, it was expected ever since the team acquired Crowder earlier this season. Ainge has repeatedly shared his intention to keep Crowder in Boston.
From Ainge:
"“I think Jae was particularly good in the playoffs,” Ainge added. “He played well. He played with great energy and provided a lot of spark. He clearly was our best defender on LeBron (James) in the series. But I don’t know if he exceeded expectations. I think Jae is a player that was improving with the opportunity that he got to play for us. And I think he’s got a lot of upside still. I think he can still get better over the next few years. But we’re excited about Jae, and we’re excited about what he brings to our team, and his versatility, and his defensive ability to play a few different positions. We think he has a very bright future.”"
For Ainge, that statement is practically gushing. And it’s understandable, as Crowder has been a young, bright spot on a team that landed the 8-seed in the Eastern Conference. Despite the fact that he suffered a sprained ACL during game 4, after a hit from the Cavaliers’ J.R. Smith, the Celtics are still encouraged.
The Celtics season ended the same night Crowder’s did, after getting swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.