NBA trade rumors: Jae Crowder heading to mystery team in three-team trade

The Suns are closing in on a Jae Crowder trade according to NBA trade rumors. But where will he end up?

Jae Crowder, though technically a member of the Phoenix Suns, has yet to suit up for the team this year. He and the team have mutually agreed to pursue options in the trade market to find Crowder a new team.

It’s been reported that Crowder is unhappy with his role on the team behind Cameron Johnson who is in growth-mode with the team.

Crowder, a three-and-D player who brings a certain toughness to whatever team he’s on, isn’t a premier trade target like a Kevin Durant but is good enough that his availability has spurred trade interest throughout the early season, especially as certain teams have discovered they’re not as competitive as they thought they would be.

Jae Crowder to be moved in a three-team deal

On Wednesday, Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report reported the Suns were close to trading Jae Crowder via a three-team trade before their game against the Warriors.

Crowder posted an Instagram story yesterday with nothing but an emoji of a clock, perhaps indicating it’s finally, “time.”

The destination has yet to be revealed, but Crowder could help a number of teams. One can assume the Suns would probably prefer to send Crowder to an Eastern Conference team to keep him out of the conference.

The Miami Heat are a logical answer to that question, given their disappointing 7-8 start. The Sixers at 7-7 are another team that appears to need some sort of shock to wake them up.

Teams at the top of the East could be considering him as well, though. The Celtics and Bucks both have just three losses, but a talented addition like Crowder could be a final piece that helps them deep in the postseason.

Crowder previously played for the Celtics and Heat, so there is familiarity for those teams with him.

He brings playoff experience to the table, as Crowder appeared in the NBA Finals of 2020 with the Heat and in 2021 with the Suns. Both teams lost their respective series.

Incremental talent-adding additions like Crowder are normally seen around the deadline or as buyout opportunities, so it’s an interesting wrinkle that his availability is coming to an end so early in the season. If a team like Boston or Milwaukee adds him, it could allow them to get a feel earlier on for what another addition would do to help them as it pertains to talent, and give them a second opportunity to look for further incremental additions if needed closer to the trade deadline.