NBA Trade Rumors: Available Guards Knicks Must Pursue

Dec 28, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard

(11) shoots the ball as Washington Wizards forward

Jr. (12) looks on in the second quarter at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Jamal Crawford, Los Angeles Clippers

Position: Guard

Age: 35

Salary: $5,675,000 (Expiring)

Slash Line: .371/.319/.929

Season Averages: 25.3 MPG, 11.6 PPG, 2.2 APG, 1.7 RPG, 1.2 3PM

Let’s address the elephant in the room: the once promising second unit has fallen apart since its scorching start. It isn’t necessarily a liability, but its inconsistency puts unnecessary pressure on the starting lineup.

Who better to help in that regard than two-time Sixth Man of the Year and former New York Knicks guard Jamal Crawford? He is available.

According to Michael Scotto of Sheridan Hoops, the Clippers are gauging the trade interest in Crawford from around the league.

Marc Stein of ESPN and Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports have reported the same.

Crawford, who’s on an expiring contract, is synonymous with instant offense. He can operate from the 1 or the 2, has range on his jump shot, is an all-time free throw shooter, and thrives a lethal threat in isolation.

If New York isn’t going to work its way out of its isolation tendencies, it might as well find players who can thrive in such a capacity.

Beyond that glass-half-full mentality is the reality that Crawford is one of the most respected locker room presences in the NBA. He’d fit in well with young players, teaming with the current veterans to help rookies Jerian Grant and Kristaps Porzingis adjust to life in the Association.

It’s not a foolproof plan, but Crawford could be had for a somewhat reasonable asking price. Frank Isola of The New York Daily News reported in August that New York had interest in the 35-year-old.

Next: The Cross-Borough Option